2021_Senior_Special_Issue

CLASS OF 2021 PARADE AND COMMENCEMENT On Thursday, May 27, 8–8:30 p.m., the community is invited to help cel- ebrate the graduating YSHS class of 2021. Villagers are asked to stand on their porches or sit along the route and cheer seniors on as they pass by. The parade will begin at YSHS, traveling on West South College, up Xenia Ave. to Corry street, down Dayton street and left on East Enon Road, back to the high school. While the graduation ceremony following the parade is not open to the public, all wishing to view it virtually may do so on the school’s YouTube channel. QUENTIN ALSTON No response submitted. CRAIG ARRINGTON No response submitted. JONAS BAHN PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Deanna Newsom, Volker Bahn I hate poetry. Who is it written for? Someone might sit down to read a short story. Countless people certainly like a good rap song. But who the hell thinks “Hey, I need something to do. I’ll go read myself a damn poem.” No one. That’s who. Imagine you meet a guy at a bar, in a black turtle neck and round sunglasses. You ask him what he does for a living, and, swirling his margarita around like it’s a glass of fine wine, he gives you a condescending smirk and says “I’m a poet.” You would have to be the Dalai Lama not to punch him in the face. Poetry is a mockery of an art form, peddled by those without the patience to write a novel or the talent to write music. I can’t even get through a stanza of Emily Dickinson without throwing up. God, I hate it. With all that in mind, here’s a poem I wrote about our fine high school: All hope is lost, and every light’s Been snuf fed in countless souls And waves of oil, black as night Break over bleachéd shoals Diseased bats roost betwixt the bricks The mortar dry and cracked But fear you not! For here he comes Our shining beacon, Jack He strides the halls, a tow’ring god Cut him, and you will see Where lesser men might bleed mere blood Pure PBL flows free Five days a week, we live like kings Beneath his shining boot At work in the assignment mines And eating prison food Although I’ve died a thousand deaths Upon the lamplit stage (And died a thousand more before A math test’s blank first page) Not one release could be so sweet (To end this monologue) As to announce “Peace out, my bros” “Till next time — go Bulldogs.” In all seriousness, I will genuinely miss YSHS, flaws and all. Like a lot of people reading this, I’ve lived in Yellow Springs for as long as I can remember. Without all the friends, family, and teachers that I’ve grown close to along the way, there’s no doubt I would hardly resemble the man I am today. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on how you view me, but at least I haven’t wronged enough people that I’m the target of any blood-soaked revenge quests. I hope. I’d like to shout out a few people who have made life in Yellow Springs worth living. First, my parents, for obvious reasons. Thank you guys for raising me with love, care and just enough authoritarianism that I became the establishment-hating psychopath I am today. I’d also like to thank Mr. Smith for being a supportive, helpful teacher, and Ms. Lutz — also for being a great teacher, but more importantly for buying snacks at D&D sometimes. I’d like to thank Lorrie Sparrow-Knapp for being the most insane and dedi- cated director I could ever hope for. I know your legacy will be carried on through me and everyone else who’s stuck with our school’s theater all these years. As always, big shout-out to all the homies — nerds and hooli- gans alike. Honestly, most of you guys fit in both of those categories. I’m cer- tainly gonna miss all the shenanigans. Lastly, I want to shout out my partner, Kirby, for being the best part of my life these past two years. I love you. I’m going to miss you the most. Later, fellas. Thanks for the ride. I leave you with three words: Bite this onions. BLAINE BAKER No response submitted. LISA BALES No response submitted. 2 Yellow Springs High School C L A S S O F 2 0 2 1 A Special Section of the YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS | May 20, 2021 Antioch School Bentino’s Pizza Berkshire Hathaway HomeService Professional Realty, Craig Mesure O U R S P O N S O R S