12 Birds

July 6, 2021

by Owen Seckers ’24

In the forest I see so many birds,
In fact, the sheer number of them is a little absurd.
So I’ll just name twelve of my favorite ones:
There are robins, cardinals, and wrens, underneath the sun.
Sparrows, blue jays, and mourning doves, who love to eat,
And hawks, falcons, who catch other birds under their feet.
Then there are woodpeckers, goldfinches and chickadees too,
Finally, there is the red-winged blackbird with it’s high-pitched coo.
I love to watch these birds in the wild, whether they are in a river or a nest,
There are many more birds out there, but these twelve are the best.

I Hear Saint Ignatius High School Singing

July 6, 2021

by Owen Seckers ’24

I hear Saint Ignatius High School singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of teachers, each one singing theirs as it should be smart and fun.
The students singing theirs as they complete their homework or test,
Dr. Fior singing his as he makes ready for announcements, or leaves off work,
The custodian singing what belongs to him in his cart, the mop singing on the bucket,
The coaches singing as they sit on their bench, the whistle singing thiers as they blow,
The priest’s song, the lunch lady’s on her way in the morning, or at noon or at 3:00,
The angry singing of the dean of students as he reprimands a student for forgetting his tie, or of the young SEP campers at camp, or of the player playing or learning,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The school what belongs to the school—at night the nature of animals,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Marrow

July 6, 2021

by Jack Kingston ’24

Monstrous canines lacerate those unfortunate enough
Around the depths of the wilderness to have survived the winter.
Ripping apart those fauna without their desired defenses,
Ravenous wolves succulently lick their maws, decadently devouring.
Over the defeated corpses of herbivorous prey, the barons of the forest
Without hesitation hunt mercilessly, never giving warning or respite.

Before the Winter

July 6, 2021

Screen Shot 2021-07-06 at 12.57.38 PM — Copyright Scott Thompson

by Jack Kingston ’24

Blowing gently on unbounding meadows
Pleasant breezes blow, as waving grasses
Fleetingly hum their evensongs. Though they’ll
Soon capitulate to freezing storms, peace reigns.

Restful deer in timbered clearings, without
any apprehensive signs, dream peacefully.
Auburn leaves drift across their nest,
Enveloping them with vibrant blankets.

Wistful passerines, since perched through mottled
branches, remember their seasons that’ve passed
Berries hanging throughout their home’s verdance
Defenseless insects on lifeless hardwood.

As the autumn declines and winter approaches,
The wilderness makes its past dues.

Topping Your Pizza

July 6, 2021

by Jack Kingston ’24

Pizza’s a delicious munch
From chewable cheese to the crust’s crunch
With such an assortment of delights for shopping
There’s sure to be some delectable toppings
Pepperoni, cheese, and jalapeno
Pineapples, chicken bites, with avocado
Beef, pork, mutton, with some slices of habanero
Bell peppers, brussel sprouts, for Italian aficionados
Tomatoes and olives, shrimp and sausage
For pescatarians, we’ve got all kinds of sea bass
Anchovies, mackerels, cod, without nutritional lossage
Spinach, bacon, onions, it’s almost kind of crass
Fried, sauteed mushrooms, beans and crushed tortilla chips
Blue cheese, salsa, and barbecue sauce
Clams, prawns, and garlic, with any mozzarella dips
And if you’re really feeling generous, top with albatross.

I Hear Saint Ignatius High School Singing

July 5, 2021

by Jack Kingston ’24

I hear Saint Ignatius High School singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of the gardeners, each one singing theirs as it should be with fortitude and strength.
The freshmen singing theirs as they learn the ropes of their school,
The history teachers singing theirs as they make ready for lessons, or leave off homework,
The Eye writers singing what belongs to them in their work, the words singing on the document,
The cafeteria workers singing as they stand at their posts, the janitors singing theirs as they clean,
The librarian’s song, the office workers on their way to the principal’s office, or with the counselors or at Mr. Franzinger’s office,
The senior singing of graduation, or the young newcomer at the Welsh Academy, or the retiring faculty after long years of service,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The people of Saint Ignatius for what belongs to the alumni—at the end of their successful careers,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Aidan Conway: 2021 Wirtz Award Winner

May 20, 2021

By Jack Slemenda

The John Wirtz Award is awarded to an athlete who makes a significant contribution to more than one sport. During his time at Ignatius (1948-1976) John Wirtz was the head coach of football, basketball, baseball, and track. He also was the athletic director at the time. The Wirtz award has a long list of phenomenal athletes and this year Aidan Conway ‘21 joins that list.

Aidan Conway is a two sport athlete, linebacker for the football team and defenseman for the hockey team. Conway joined the varsity football team sophomore year and the prep hockey team freshman year. When asked what this award means to him Aidan said, “I feel really fortunate to have won it considering all the great athletes we have in our class both who play multiple sports and those who play one. Ultimately this award to me is just a byproduct of hard work. The goal coming in here is to work hard to better others around you and bring home some state championships.” Conway did just that, winning two state championships with the hockey team.

Even though Conway’s coaches helped him grow as an athlete he says, “Coach O’Rourke, Coach Kyle, Coach Franzinger, Coach Rubino, and Coach Short, they have really just shown me how to become an Ignatian man as well as an athlete.”

During his career at Ignatius many good moments have stuck with Conway. His favorite hockey moment is quite an impressive one, “Either the double overtime State Championship freshman year against St. Francis or the 9-0 District Final against Ed junior year.” Unsurprisingly his favorite football memory is a classic one for many Ignatius football players as well as fans, “As for football it has to be the comeback win against Hoban junior year.”

With his time at Ignatius coming to a close I asked Conway what was the biggest lesson he learned as an athlete at Saint Ignatius, “The biggest thing that I have learned over my time as an athlete here at St. Ignatius is how to work. You are going to have off games and bad practices. You aren’t going to want to get up for 6 a.m. lifts in February, but you have to. Being an athlete at Ignatius has taught me how to be a man.” A great story from a great guy, congratulations to Aidan as this year’s Wirtz Award winner. We also congratulation Wirtz Award nominees Carter Zimmerman ‘21, Michael Mattimore ‘21, and Nick Velotta ‘21.