Cover art by Sophie Leen

June 9, 2023

A note from the Bartleby advisor.

I hope you enjoy the 2022-2023 edition of Bartleby. I am immensely proud of the students who are sharing their work and of the work itself.

In this year’s edition, you will find numerous original pieces of student writing, including poetry, satire, and creative nonfiction. In many of the writing pieces, students explored aspects of their identities through the use of mentor texts, including Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried, Richard Blanco’s poem “Mother Country,” and the prologue to Tommy Orange’s novel There, There.

Interspersed throughout, you’ll find visual art including photography, self-portraits, paintings, drawings, and videos. This edition highlights the variety of talents, interests, and modes of expression that students at CEHS possess and utilize.

Thank you, contributors, for your willingness to show your work, which not only highlights your creativity and talent but also your bravery for putting yourself out there. Thank you very much, Tom Farmer, for your technical assistance in creating the magazine. Thank you, Sophie Leen, for designing our beautiful cover. Thank you, readers, for your interest. As artificial intelligence infiltrates our world, it is more important than ever to be reminded of the tremendous power of our own minds and hands.

~Lauren Tarantino, Cape Elizabeth High School, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Bartleby 2023

Cover art by Josie Caton

June 1, 2022

A note from the Bartleby advisor

I hope you enjoy the 2021-2022 edition of Bartleby. Lisa Melanson served as the Bartleby advisor for many years; this year is my first year putting together the publication, and it has been a privilege to curate the collection of work.

In this year’s edition, you will find numerous poems, some of which were crafted at the annual Gabe Zimpritch symposium, which was led this year by poet Cornelius Eady. Two students ended up creating a collaborative poem comprised of their two individual poems from the symposium. You will also notice various pieces of found poetry from two works, Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Toni Morrison’s Sula, along with some prose pieces inspired by the first chapter of The Things They Carried.

Interspersed throughout, you’ll find photography, self-portraits, and even a music video. This edition highlights the variety of talent students at CEHS possess. Celebrating the beauty and power of writing and art feels more important than ever.

Thank you, contributors, for allowing us to showcase your work, and thank you very much, Tom Farmer, for your assistance in all technical matters relating to creating the magazine. Thank you, Josie Caton, for designing our beautiful cover. Also, thank you, Lisa Melanson, for your guidance and expertise.

~Lauren Tarantino, Cape Elizabeth High School, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Bartleby 2022