Girl in the Picture

Poem by Jennifer L. Day

She is a young woman in the picture.
Her hair is set just so,
in the style all the other girls wear.
She looks like she’d said goodbye
to someone in World War II.
She stands alone on a balcony
in a dark dress, very neat with
her high-heeled feet crossed,
the only thing noticeably improper.
She looks to the side, her hair glistening
and covering half of her ivory face,
as if to hide a sad story. She lets a small smile
touch her lips. She appears to know I am watching
her, that I see her stand by herself in a place
so exquisite and breathtaking,
somewhere lovers must have met in secret.
But she doesn’t want me to see
how alone she is. But then
I feel her spirit as I refuse
to shift my invading eyes
and I am standing where she was
there alone.
In the next moment, I’ll be joined
by a charming stranger
who likes to make girls laugh.
Maybe we’ll dance like children
And maybe when I stand here again
We’ll be the lovers gazing over
a new world.

Contributors Note: I am currently a student at Cerro Coso and hope to continue studying the art of the English language. I love photography and I hope to learn more of the arts and all they entail.

Creating a Monster Using the Method of Victor Frankenstein

Essay by Kelly Pankey

“I consider it useless and tedious to represent what exists, because nothing that exists satisfies me. Nature is ugly, and I prefer the monsters of my fancy to what is positively trivial” -Pierre Charles Baudleaire

There are many reasons why someone would want to create a monster. One reason could be that a person wishes to play God, but he or she feels that just creating a normal being would be boring and let’s face it, it’s been done before. Then there are those that are just naturally angry about everything and want to punish the world for its lack of sympathy and understanding. These people want to create a monster that will wreak havoc upon their enemies. The last group of monster makers would be those who just have nothing better to do with their time. If you fit into any of these categories you might be interested in Victor Frankenstein’s method for creating a monster.

The first step you will need to take is to study an outdated science such as Alchemy or some other scientific field that has since been discredited. People may ridicule you for it, and they may even laugh at you, but this is a necessary step in the process. Don’t become disheartened when you are put down for devoting your studies to Alchemy. Victor’s own father called Victor’s first book on Alchemy “sad trash” (Shelley 46), and told him not to waste his time on it. Even Victor’s professor at the university told him that he wasted his time studying those books. But that did not deter Victor!
Next, you must find a suitable place in which to work on your creation. The place you choose must be secluded and dreary for best results. You must also take consideration of how you are going to illuminate your new abode. Candles are a good choice. They put out very little light and are inexpensive. Plus, they set the mood, which will provide you with some much-needed inspiration for your project.

The third step is where you start to get your hands dirty. This is where the fun starts. You are now required to visit the morgues and cemeteries to gather up your materials. Slaughterhouses are also a great resource. It is very important at this point to choose the largest and most grotesque body parts you can find. The bigger and uglier you get, the better your monster will be. Also, the larger body parts are easier to work with, which will make the task go by more quickly, as Victor discovered, “As the minuteness of the parts formed a great hindrance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature …” (Shelley 58).

After collecting your materials, you must begin assembling your creature. This will take a lot of time and patience. You must forget about family, friends, and anything else that could be a distraction to your work, and focus complete attention upon the task at hand. You may receive a few concerned letters from your loved ones, but just ignore them for the time being. Your devotion and hard work will be rewarded in the end.

At last, after perhaps years of struggles and setbacks, your task is almost finished. But the final step is also the most important step in creating a true monster. After life is finally bestowed upon your creation you must do one more thing. Run away! You must now abandon the thing you devoted so much time and attention to for so long. If you don’t complete this last step properly you may just end up with a giant, ugly best friend. You don’t want the monster to feel the slightest bit of gratitude to you for creating it. And God forbid it should learn any of the other human emotions besides anger, hate, and devastation. What good would a kind, compassionate monster be, anyway?

Well, if you follow step-by-step Victor Frankenstein’s guide for creating a monster, the results should be nothing less than an angry, murderous, and probably very miserable creature that will owe its entire existence to you and you alone. You may lose a few close friends and family members to the monster’s wrath, but that’s a price you must be willing to pay when you take up the occupation of creator.

Works Cited
Baudleaire, Pierre Charles. BrainyQuote. 2008. 13 March 2008.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. Johanna M. Smith. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000.

Contributor’s Note: I am currently a student with a few semesters behind me. I am hoping to receive a degree from Cerro Coso and then transfer to a university. I love to read and write, but I have also discovered since attending college, that I enjoy just about every other subject I pursue in my studies.