Creative Writing Commons^™

Reflections On Paying Attention, Cyril Blavo

be Still

This is a reflection on attentiveness in communiciation.

More Of, Maxwell Corrigan

be Still

More of is an album I produced and released in my second year of medical school. Writing music can be a way to process, much like journaling or other forms of artwork. In this way, my albums reflect many personal experiences, thoughts, and other innerworkings. My songwriting process is done in a free association style, as I find my music is most meaningful when it comes from a deeper consciousness. While many of the songs in More of resonate with classic imbalances of attention and care within relationships, my music functionally acts to draw out the things I often need …

Stillness, Fatima Bawaney

be Still

No abstract provided.

Continuing On, Stephanie Singer

be Still

No abstract provided.

A Gaze That Lingers, Vidhi Raval, Naman Gupta

be Still

No abstract provided.

The Gift Of Attention, Ahron J. Petrillo

be Still

This poem explores the shifting rhythms of attention as both a challenge and a gift in the life of a student of medicine. It illuminates the path toward knowledge and healing. Woven into its lines is the tension between effort and rest, intellect and care, science and humanity. The imagery of fire and thread reflects how learning is not only about the consumption of information, but also the shaping of character. Ultimately, the poem affirms that rest, presence, and attention are not distractions from becoming a healer, but integral to the art of it.

Curating Serenity, Archana Banda

be Still

Attention to me is appreciating the simplest things amidst the joys and hardships of life. Throughout my medical school journey, I have rediscovered the importance of practicing self-care, gratitude, and embracing an abundance mindset. Being self-aware about our own health and optimizing it allows us to care for patients with the utmost compassion and generosity. Paying attention as future physicians means empathizing with patients at their most vulnerable moments and restoring hope in a brighter future. Attention and generosity are inherently interconnected because when providers are attentive to their patients’ health concerns, they can be generous with their time and …

Returning Back To Piano, Pooja Sai Singu

be Still

This piece reflects my journey with the piano, a relationship that began with joy, faltered under the weight of competition, and has now been renewed with gratitude and perspective. Writing it was both a way of honoring the memories tied to music and a reminder of how returning to something familiar can restore balance in the midst of new challenges. For me, piano is no longer about perfection, but about presence.

Conversations In Silence: Connecting With Nonverbal Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Allyson Nepomuceno

be Still

No abstract provided.

Honoring Constellations, Prachi S. Gandhi

be Still

“Honoring Constellations” is a meditation on the quiet labor of attention in spaces shaped by caregiving, illness, and uncertainty. The poem was born from the emotional weight of witnessing how each patient, each moment, carries a constellation of stories that are often untold. In clinical spaces, time presses forward relentlessly, but I wanted to pause inside that pressure to explore what it means to hold space for lives at the threshold of change or loss. The poem aims to honor the meaning that exists even in apparent silence. Here, attention is not just presence; it’s a form of reverence.

A Not-Quite-Assessment Of Assessing Autoethnography: Ekphrastic Compositions On Quality, Clarity, And (Un)Certainty In Autoethnography, Aaron Hoy

The Qualitative Report

Taking an ekphrastic approach, this essay responds to and reflects on my reading of Assessing Autoethnography: Notes on Analysis, Evaluation, and Craft by Andrew F. Herrmann and Tony E. Adams. It has three parts. First, I summarize the book’s central chapters and discuss their practical uses, especially as prompts for in-progress autoethnographies. Second, using clarity as a point of entry, I explore a tension I felt while reading the book—between the comforting utility of specific criteria and the marginalizing power of criteria themselves. Finally, I share a found poem composed in response to the book and reflect on the impermanent …

Table Of Contents

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Φυσιολατρία (2), Eleni V. Angelos

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"φυσιολατρία is a Greek word that refers to sympathetic perception of the natural world in its uncultivated state. My pieces were inspired by my time spent outside when I am fully conscious and being mindful of my surroundings. I wanted to portray my feelings of connectedness, along with patterns/colors that I notice when I fully present in nature."

Birthday Wish, Melissa Velasco

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"This work is a part of a novel that I am working on about my dad's life story. I embellished the story for dramatic effect, but the story is true. What inspired me to write about my dad’s life was that growing up, I heard many stories about how different his childhood was, the different jobs he worked, and how he really wanted to come to the United States and I wanted to compile them in one place."

Cosmic Princess, Sophia R. Dakkuri

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"Sophia wanted to explore fantasy new to her by going straight to the cosmos and creating a story that features the 'Cosmic Princess.' She used her little sister as the subject. When looking at the sculpture, one can notice that the princess has independence and a sense of adventure expressed on her face. Her face is youthful and doll-like because she is still a child slowly growing up. The colors were chosen purposefully to help the storytelling. The combination of pastel and bright colors truly bring this princess to life and accentuate the movement of the hair."

Two-Headed Lamb, Nicole Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'Two-Headed Lamb' is meant to be a storytelling piece that gives viewers mixed emotions of both eeriness and comfort. The eerie feeling comes from the subject of the work while the comfort feeling comes from the use of textile materials such as fabric, lace, and thread."

Hanahaki, Yanick Victorin

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"This piece is based on the fictional disease Hanahaki. The disease is described as 'a fictional disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love. It ends when the beloved returns their feelings or when the victim dies.' The subject is actually from a character in a DnD campaign, who has suffered from unrequited love in his past. So I decided to dedicate this piece to him, mainly because I thought it was interesting."

From Our Faculty Advisors

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Bell Pepper, Effie D. Cypress

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"This was an assignment in one of the classes I had to take. In the beginning of class we just had to quickly paint whatever object was on the table before time ran out, and what was in front of me was a fake bell pepper on purple paper. It’s simple but I ended up liking the end result a lot."

On The Farm, Nicole Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'On the Farm' tells the story of a relaxing summer in the countryside. This piece uses collaged elements, such as handmade paper, pressed flowers, and fabric, to create a variety of patterns and textures. Overall, I wanted the piece to have a vintage feel and resemble a pillow or quilt you would find in an old home."

Triptyx, Pranav Police

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement "The inspiration for 'TriptyX' comes from triptych art, where three pieces are displayed side by side with shared features. In 'TriptyX', I aimed to blend my atmospheric melodies with bouncy drums while maintaining consistent sonic elements across the tracks. I believe this project best represents my musical style at this stage. The meaning behind the pieces is open to interpretation, reflecting my current understanding of what defines my sound."

Fruitful Encounters, Princess Mari Mimay Cabusao

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Φυσιολατρία, Eleni V. Angelos

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Shadows And Doubt, Marieann C. Raguso

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Keep Pushing, Joseph T. Romano

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"I submitted this piece as an inspiration to all and any who choose to take the time to look at it. Your struggles and problems are always temporary. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and make it known to the world who you are. No matter what happens or what you’re going through. KEEP PUSHING."

Untitled, Sofia I. Menco

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

In Transit, Sara Menco Arenas

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"This poem intends to convey the experience of coming to terms with not only growing up but also letting go—recognizing that people will leave, time will pass, you will change, and yet, it is essential to cherish every moment. When I wrote this, and even now, I still feel that accepting change amid life’s unexpected transit is one of the hardest things to do— to learn to let go."

Echoes Of You, Sara Menco Arenas

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"The inspiration behind this piece is an old friend who, with the passage of time, has become more of a shadow than a presence. Though many years have passed, I wanted to acknowledge the small, everyday reminders—subtle traces that only I can recognize—showing that this person still lingers in my heart and mind. However, I chose to end on a hopeful note, waiting in anticipation to meet once again, for the memory to become more than just a shadow, and for their presence to no longer be just a fleeting glimpse in my life."

Trophy, Fidel E. Perez Pujols

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'Trophy' explores the cycle of death and evolution. This piece reflects on the identities we shed yet still carry within us, symbolizing transformation and reawakening. Through its eerie yet captivating form, it invites viewers to consider how loss shapes who we become."

Coexisting Peacefully, Haylee M. Kubat

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"My piece shows the fluidity of how animals can have a symbiotic relationship in the wild to survive. With the red panda and snow leopard becoming mutuals to survive, their bond grows stronger than what humans could ever have."