Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Without Her Face By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images Chapter one In the town of Snow Valley Square the chilly streets were warm because of the love that flew all around. It was Valentine’s Day, a fortunate time for couples to embody the ceaseless love they’ve shared with each other. The small town bustled with conversations that were laced with sweet words of couples. They were chattering about what they’re going to do, giggling about where they’re going to go, and signing about the memories they’ve shared. This was especially clear to see on E. Rosemary St., no one seemed to be alone, everyone was budding shoulders and crossing arms with someone. No one seemed to be alone except for Mr. Owl, who only had his golden watch and a thin duffle coat to keep him company. On the edge of the dark gray sidewalk, he perched down on a bench and peered at his watch. It was 6 pm on a Saturday afternoon, but Belle Maya Owl, his wife of six months and partner of four years, was late once again. She had said with her soft cheery voice: “Let’s meet… around twelve! Ok, darling? I-l won’t be tardy this time." She said that six hours ago. Mr. Owl’s thick eyebrows pulled together with mild annoyance, though the annoyance grew. Every sweet word the couples exchanged around him with each other flew by him like a gust of wind. “Where is she…?” he muttered. “Geez... how long does that woman expect me to wait here?” Mr. Owl was a patient man, but even a patient man has his limits. Two pairs of shoes scratch against the pavement in a hold, “Why hey there Owl!” called out a man. Mr. Owl turned to meet the playfully mocking smirks of Mr. and Mrs. Blue, who stood next to each other, their hands intertwined. “Whatcha doin’ over there? Waitin’ for that wife of yours?” Mr. Blue asked. Mrs. Blue leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder, looking at him at, “She’s probably still putting on makeup. You know how women are with their makeup — we view it as an art form — because it is” she jested lightly, her head adding more weight onto the shoulder. “That Belle though... she takes it more seriously than other women I’ve met. She spends so much time on it—yet the result ends up being...” she glances at Mr. Owl, “above average. Isn’t that right, darling?” She shifted her glance to Mr. Blue. “I’m still surprised Owl made it this far in a relationship, and he’s a dedicated one — fella waited ten hours for wife” Mr. Blue scoffed, smiling. “But hey, Belle’s a nice woman, so I can’t blame him-” The smaller hand surrounding his own had tightened. Mrs. Owl had narrowed her green eyes while her mouth formed a pout, “She’s not nicer than me, is she? I hope you mean nice in personality, Mike. “ “Geez, Sophia, calm down, will ya?” “Although, she’s also above average in terms of that too.” Mr. Owl’s face clenched his jaw with a tint a flush, “Now, the both you, shush up.” He sprang from his seat to glare at the couple. “Can’t a gentleman, wait for his wife in peace? Peace, as in a couple goin’ along their lovey way and not stopping on their tracks to sneer at me!? And no, Mike, I have not been waiting for ten hours, I’ve been waiting for…” Owl paused, then turned away from the couple, scowling down at the ground. “Never mind” he hissed as Mr. and Mrs. Blue blinked at him; Mrs. Blue turned to Mr. Blue. “Suddenly, I’m beginning to doubt she’s coming.” “Don’t say such things, Sophia.” “What? I’m only saying what I think--” A delicate hand gently rested on Owl's shoulder. The touch surprised him enough that all the red-hot emotion he contained popped right out of him. A slivery sweet voice that had belonged to the lovely hand replied. “There you are, sweetheart, I’m sorry—I’m late, aren’t I?” With every word the voice grew sympathetic. “You’ve must’ve been waiting all day for me.” Mr. Owl slowly turned to meet the alluring dark eyes of Belle, Mrs. Owl, and her pastel pink colored lips perked into a soft smile. “I’m sorry I don’t mean to… Oh! I know just the place that’ll be perfect for us.” Belle pushed a piece of her long flowing black hair behind her ears. She looked at Mrs. Blue and shared the smile she gave to Owl. “Well, how are you, Sophia? Enjoying his holiday?” Mrs. Blue’s eyebrows snapped together. She turned her gaze away from her. “Fine,” she replied. Sophia turned her gaze to Mr. Blue, but her smile had fainted, Mike stared at her. There was a pause for a moment, until Sophia gave a polite smile, “You too—Mike?” Mr. Blue blinked, as if she snapped him out of a trance. “Uh yeah, of course” he replied, feeling the burning eyes of his wife. “Wonderful. Now, come along, honey, there’s a load of hours I’ve got to make up” she said to Mr. Owl. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Self Confidence By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Original photography by Elyas Layachi You might wonder, what is the meaning of self-confidence? Self-confidence is how someone feels about themselves and their abilities. It involves trusting yourself and your decisions. I play many sports, and they require a lot of self-confidence, especially running. It’s 90% mental and 10% physical. During the cross-country season, I had difficulty keeping up with the more experienced runners. I missed most of the meets because I was scared to compete, and my self-confidence wasn’t there. I kept telling myself, “I can’t do this. It’s impossible and too hard.” I did not perform that well during the races because I wasn’t trying to compete with other people. I ran slower than I wanted to. My self-esteem and confidence were very low. Athletes have a hard time with their self-confidence all the time. There is always a little voice in their head telling them that they can’t do it or it’s too hard. Our thoughts influence our actions. There are many simple ways to boost your self-confidence. First, get away from the people who will tear you down. Another thing you can do is write a list of what makes you unique and different from other people. You should have positive self-affirmations that you can tell yourself every day. My self-affirmation is, “I can do this. I am strong.” A quote by Eleanor Roosevelt says, “We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face … we must do that which we think we cannot.” This statement tells us that we shouldn’t be scared to do things. Instead, we should try to do the things that we think we cannot do even though we may feel like we can’t. That is how you build your self-confidence. Once you face many obstacles, you learn from those experiences and feel more confident about yourself and what you can accomplish. So, the day of my last meet, I wasn’t mentally prepared when we arrived, but I was ready after my coach and brother gave me a pep-talk. Even though the race was hard, I got through it with a positive mindset. My proudest moment was when I crossed that finish line with a smile on my face. I competed and regained my self-confidence. I ended up getting fifth place out of twenty-three people! All in all, people gain self-confidence in their own way, and anyone can do it if they just take a leap and never give up. In order to grow, you must embrace the uncomfortable, and use it to improve. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Teacher Appreciation Week Ava Augello Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Christy Mansfield Teacher Appreciation Week is all about celebrating educators who have made a positive impact on students and honoring their hard work and dedication. While there are many different teachers at North High School who exhibit these refined traits, one teacher who sticks out among the crowd is Michelle Puleo. Ms. Puleo is a Special Education teacher who always looks out for her students, having their best interests in mind. She has become a prominent safe space for students who feel that they can share anything with her. Teachers and students alike look to her for guidance and support. One student that has been impacted by Puleo is Junior Jaanvi Chauhan. She says, “Puleo doesn’t judge when you ask for help, she has a gentle heart, she always knows when something’s up with her students and sees the best in them. When I was having a bad day, she asked me what was wrong and listened to me, giving me good advice I will hold onto forever.” When asked about her favorite thing about teaching, Puleo said, “Watching students gain self-confidence and improve their self-esteem as the year progresses. Watching students be kind to one another gives you a sense of faith in humanity and the future. Students come from all sorts of backgrounds, as teachers we learn from them as well. It’s important to me to make sure that I give attention to all my students because nobody should feel left out or lonely.” Puleo has been teaching for 25 years, allowing her to meet hundreds of different students throughout her career. When asked about something she has seen often, she said, “One common thing I’ve seen throughout teaching is that students want to be heard and noticed, it has never changed.” When Puleo was asked to share something about teaching that she wasn’t told during college, she responded with, “The strong friendships you will make with other teachers. It's crazy when I think about how we’ve all seen each other through different stages in our lives.” Having Puleo among the many amazing teachers here at North High School emphasizes just how extraordinary the staff is. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections One Swing By Ryan Restivo Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Victor Decolongon BANG! There it went, straight over the left field fence and onto the batting cages. The parents on the bleachers going nuts, my dad about to lose his voice, and my heart beating so fast it just might explode. Indeed, a fantastic feeling, but it was not easy getting there. Baseball was my life. I watched and played it all the time. I thought I would love the game forever. I was wrong. Everything seemed great until I played travel baseball. I figured I could handle the pressure; however, as the season got closer, I felt myself losing interest. The game I loved felt like a chore. With every Sunday practice, I experienced something rare… nerves. I felt the nerves the second I woke up to the second practice ended. The nerves intensified. My stomach, sick, as if someone was taking a bat, battering my stomach. I did not know how to stop this feeling. I thought it would go away over time. It got worse. Worse to the point where I was throwing up, then walking into practice like nothing happened, pretending to have fun. I could not do this anymore. The immense pressure and extreme nerves were too much. I made a tough decision that felt right at the time. I quit the team just days before the first game. This decision destroyed my confidence, because I was giving up. My confidence was shot, and it affected my life. Waking up nervous on Sundays for baseball was one thing, but waking up nervous every day for school, or just life in general was another. I realized this had nothing to do with baseball. This was a confidence issue within me. It affected me in the most unlikely places, like school recess. The highlight of every kid’s day was the opposite for me. I refused to join all the kids having a blast outside. Why? Because of the paranoia of everyone staring, the fear of embarrassment in front of all to witness. Instead, I would stay inside. Alone. Every day. Sometimes I would even hide in the bathroom until recess was over. Even with therapy and a school psychologist, I still felt like a spider tangled in its own web. I wondered if anything could ever get me back to normal. The decision to quit baseball a year ago still haunted me. I missed it tremendously. Although I was not playing baseball anymore, I still watched baseball all the time. After all, it remained my favorite sport. Watching the stars of the game like Mike Trout and Dee Gordon thrive on the field really made me second guess my decision. I never want to look back in life with regrets, and I feared that not playing would be something I would regret. My mom always told me that the day I quit would be a day I regret. I belonged on a baseball field. I needed to get myself back out there and play. Through some words of wisdom from my family, and unintentional inspiration from MLB stars, I found myself back on a baseball diamond, where it all slowly started to come together. BANG! There it went… My first home run. It’s every baseball player’s dream to hit a home run during a big game, so the player in me was thrilled! However, the average everyday human in me felt different. This change in confidence I had on the field transferred to my everyday life. Just like my nerves had, but in reverse this time. I was no longer tentative to live my life. I was my own worst enemy; nothing held me back besides myself. I found it within me to play again, and one swing had finally changed everything. One swing I will never forget. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Juneteenth Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, and Jubilee Day, Juneteenth has only become recognized as a national holiday within the past three years. However, it has a rich, complex history that has been around since 1866. But why was Juneteenth only made a national holiday recently? And why is it celebrated? Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the United States following the Civil War. It was first celebrated in Galveston, Texas where on June 19th, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger announced the following, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free” (Associated Press, 2023). This meant slavery was no longer permitted and African Americans were ensured personal rights. Celebrations immediately began with parades and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. This marked a second Independence Day as African Americans gaining their inalienable rights were compared to 1776 when the U.S. gained independence from Great Britain. Not only were African Americans and formerly enslaved people now free but they had more opportunities than ever before. For instance, some worked for more social reform or even attempted to run for office. It is crucial to understand that without the 13th Amendment, this social change would have never been possible. Even though Abraham Lincoln began the movement by declaring the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, it only freed slaves in Confederate states, while the 13th Amendment freed slaves nationally (Taylor, 2024). As stated by Abraham Lincoln, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” However, this amendment did not prevent a new form of slavery that would soon emerge. Law enforcement took advantage of the phrase “...except as a punishment for crime” and would arrest or hurt African Americans for small inconveniences. Regardless of the long history that Juneteenth has in the United States, it only became a national holiday on June 19th, 2021. It stems from the protests against police brutality in 2020 with the most well-known example being George Floyd’s death. During this time, the Black Lives Matter movement also known as BLM was prompted and as a result, sparked conversations concerning racial justice and equality. Prior to Joe Biden signing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, it was a lengthy process. It began with 96-year-old Opal Lee, a dedicated activist who was the first to begin a campaign advocating for Juneteenth to be a national holiday. After rallies and support for the holiday by many citizens, The United States House of Representatives officially voted on the bill and received over 400 votes in favor of it (Taylor 2024). It was then implemented and effective immediately. Similar to Juneteenth celebrations in 1866 and other current national holidays, festivities include processions and community events with food and games. However, it is important to recognize that Juneteenth is more than a day off work or school, it is a celebration of freedom and equality for all. Since Juneteenth was declared as an official holiday, it has created more public awareness and education for all. By bringing attention to this news especially for young people that are continuously getting the opportunities to learn more about the struggles and challenges their country has faced and are still facing. Historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and many others have spent their lives working for not only African American equality but also the chance for recognition and celebrating black individuals. Juneteenth is only a small example of the many ways the United States has progressed in enforcing remembrance and reflection that paves the way for a more inclusive society. Juneteenth stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience, marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the ongoing quest for equality and justice. It deserves to be commemorated not only because of its significance in history but also because there are over 40 million African Americans in the United States who make contributions to politics, the economy, and society every day. Sources: Juneteenth: The History - The New York Times ( nytimes.com ) The Story Behind Juneteenth and How It Became a Federal Holiday | Chicago News | WTTW 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is Passed | National Museum of African American History and Culture ( si.edu ) Juneteenth | National Museum of African American History and Culture ( si.edu ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections 2024 Election Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching Context for the 2024 Election During the 2024 Election, it was no secret that the presidential race between the Harris and Trump administrations sparked a variety of controversy and excitement. It is crucial to understand that politics are the driving force of every country’s economy, law system, and citizens, meaning the United States is no exception. With 244 million Americans of voting age, there was a huge turnout of citizens casting their ballot this November, following 2020 when two-thirds of the voting population participated. But was every voter fully educated on each candidate’s policies and history in government? Donald Trump was regarded as the Republican nominee for this year’s election and former 45th president of the United States. However, he also has a rich history in entertainment and real estate. According to BBC News, as a son of real estate tycoon Fred Trump, Donald Trump would follow in his father’s footsteps and later join his company. Originally focused on middle-class rental housing in Brooklyn and Queens, Trump would quickly take control of the company and expand it into Manhattan. As a result, he created high-profile projects such as the Trump Tower, the Trump Plaza, and a variety of luxury businesses such as casinos and hotels. This generated not only money for Trump but also nationwide fame that would propel him to take part in the entertainment industry. His most well-known show was The Apprentice where contestants would compete in a variety of tasks to prove themselves to be competent in business in hopes of winning a job at Trump’s organization. This gave Trump further recognition as he would make small appearances in a variety of films and commercials. Using these past successes, he would announce his candidacy against Hillary Clinton, and later win. According to the White House Archives, during this time the Trump Administration focused on improving the economy in which all employment rates for minorities increased and reached an all-time high. This allowed many families to thrive and reduce poverty rates. At the same time, Trump invested his time in creating and funding the Space Force which became a branch of the U.S. Armed Services in 2019. This new force was put into place to ensure and protect the United States’ interest in space exploration. While these achievements of Trump have advanced our country, he also faced a lot of criticism om some of his other policies. For instance, “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” originally meant to reduce taxes for people and businesses to create less economic deficits, did not go as planned. This is because these tax cuts ultimately skewed in favor of wealthy corporations, meaning people of lower economic status could not reap any benefits. Additionally, many Americans did not agree with Trump’s immigration policy. Going into his 2016 presidency it was clear that one of Trump’s many goals was to decrease illegal immigrants from coming into the United States and starting a new life. However, he ended up reducing legal immigration by nearly half a million people who had all their documentation and background checks but were unable to enter the country. This caused a drastic decline in the United States’ current and future labor force. As a result, Trump would go on to lose the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Regardless, Trump decided to run again this year with Vice President J.D. Vance with the goals of reducing inflation, taxes, and immigration even further. Kamala Harris is the Democratic candidate for this year’s presidential race and has the potential to become the 47th President of the United States and the first woman to hold such a highly regarded position. She is most known for being Joe Biden’s current Vice President, but she has been in politics for longer than some may think. According to the BBC, she began her career as a deputy district attorney in California but would later be promoted to the District Attorney of San Franciso. In these two positions, she focused heavily on criminal reform and sought to ensure justice. During this time, she was continuously building up a strong reputation for herself in public service and became very respected. This launched her into becoming Attorney General of California. Here she would continue her work with not only criminal justice but overall law enforcement such as marriage equality and protection for consumers. Harris would later be elected as Senator of California where she was tasked with proposing legislation and bills as well as confirming judicial court justices and executive branch positions. Due to her long history in government and law, Joe Biden would go on to choose Harris as his running mate, making her the first woman to become vice president of the United States. Their shared views and policies led them to various successes during their time in office including increased housing for Americans. According to the White House Archives, the Biden-Harris administration has constructed the most housing units after 50 years, allowing more people to live in a safe community and home. Additionally, they were credited with post-covid recovery of the United States. This involved getting over 16 million jobs created and administration of vaccines. As a result, this ensured the country’s return to normalcy and stability. However, at the same time, Biden and Harris faced a variety of judgments from the public. For instance, consumer debt and inflation have skyrocketed ever since Biden and Harris came into office. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, “American households were spending down their savings at an average rate of $70 billion per month since September 2021 — which has accelerated to $85 billion a month since last fall. By March of this year, they had fully depleted all the excess savings they had accumulated during the pandemic, and by June their savings had dropped $372 billion below expected levels.” This expresses the drastic downfall the economy has been facing the past four years that only continues to get worse over time. Another popular criticism was the influx of illegal immigrants that entered the United States under Biden and Harris’s time in office. According to a Fox News report, “about 7.2 million illegal border crossings have occurred since Biden became president. This is a higher number than the population of 36 different states.” As a result of these statistics, the democratic party faces a variety of criticism. Regardless, Kamala Harris has campaigned with running mate, Tim Waltz, in hopes of becoming the first female president to strengthen democracy and freedom. As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump sought to win the votes of millions of Americans it is crucial to understand and be aware of the political world. Regardless of being able to vote or not, these issues and policies have impacts on every person and future generations. Therefore, stay informed and educated not only throughout the election season but beyond it. Sources: The Biden-Harris Record | The White House Donald J. Trump – The White House Donald Trump's life story: From real estate to politics - BBC News Where do Harris and Trump stand on the key election issues? | US elections 2024 | The Guardian Who is Kamala Harris? The many identities of the first woman VP BACK TO TOP

Shea Flannelly POLARIS LITERARY MAGAZINE EDITOR Hello everyone! My name is Shea Flannelly, and I am eager to introduce myself as the Editor-in-Chief of Polaris. My role directly aligns with my deep love for creative writing. Outside of Polaris, I am President of Alliance, Vice President of SADD, a participant in Drama Club, and an active member of SWAC. I am thrilled to look at your submissions and see your unique creations! Your creativity is meaningful, and your art deserves to be seen! I Love the Color Green Shea Flannelly Polaris Read More

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections ENL Buddy Program VSN By Alisson Alas Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by VSCHSD.ORG The ENL Buddy Program, advised by ENL Department Chair Ms. Swinton, is one of the many clubs offered at North . The ENL Buddy Program offers many activities: Students get to go into ENL classes and do fun and creative activities with the ENL students. Students got to make hallway decorations for World Language Week and participated in this year’s PS I Love You Day event. Students got to go into ENL classrooms and make holiday cards for staff members. Students can help other ENL students feel welcomed to North by helping them get around during their first days in the building. According to Ms. Swinton: “The ENL Buddy program is designed to help new and/or struggling ENL students connect to the North community. Mentors, who are current or former ENL students, work with students individually, visit ENL classrooms and facilitate lessons for students that are designed to build community and also lead after-school activities during meeting time.” For me I think joining this club is an amazing idea since I was a ENL student, I definitely feel like the ENL students feel welcomed to North because they have other students who know how they feel and who are willing to help them get around and get familiar with the environment. According to Ms. Swinton: “Mentors are typically current or former ENL students because they have a shared, lived experience with our newest Spartans. Mentors often also share a similar language and cultural backgrounds with the mentees.” Here's what she said about the activities and plans for the year: “This year, mentors have planned and facilitated classroom lessons that speak to the North's core values of respect, integrity, and kindness. Members of the ENL Buddy Program have also helped to create holiday cards for members of the community, participated in PS I Love You Day by creating positive messages and decorating the school hallway with them and designed flags from around the world in honor of World Language Week.” If you like helping, doing fun and creative activities, have been or are an ENL student, this is the club to join. If you share a similar language and cultural backgrounds with the mentees, you would really be able to make someone's day and transition into our school much easier and get that amazing rush of energy while helping somebody else. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections FALL RECAP Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Sophia Songveeratham Boys Volleyball had an undefeated regular season going 16-0 and winning the Conference Championship. They qualified for the playoffs where they lost a hard-fought battle to Great Neck North. Senior Danny Kosior earned All-County honors. Junior Erik Ziemblicki also earned All-County Honors and was named Conference Player of the Year. Girls Volleyball had a conference record of 5-9. They played Bellmore JFK in the playoffs where they lost a hard-fought battle. Alyanna Nadal earned All-County honors, Isabella Feldman and Nattly Lindo both earned All-County Honorable Mention and Cianna Nadal earned All-Conference. They also earned distinction as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team with a team GPA of 93.214. The Girls Varsity Tennis team had 9 wins and 5 losses. Anna Persaud received All Conference and Ella Cason received the USTA Sportsmanship Award. The players performed admirably in all their matches, making the season memorable. They also earned distinction as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team with a team GPA of 93.325. Boys Varsity Cross-Country won the Division Champions with Coach Tim Boyens. Kevin Beltran and Matteo Somma received All-County, while Chamar Borden , Mateusz Grabowski , Frank Polizzi , and Charles Wu received All-Conference for their amazing performance. They also earned distinction as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team with a team GPA of 95.971. Girls Varsity Soccer earned distinction as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team with a team GPA of 91.652. Dayanara Castillo received All-Country, while Lia Giaconelli and Elena Magno earned the All-County Honorable Mention. Claudia Sherman received the All-Conference for her amazing performance. The Boys Varsity Football season was summed up by 2 wins, against Division and Floral Park, and 6 losses. Senior Nicholas Naumov earned the All-County Honorable Mention and Terry Medor received All-Conference. Boys Varsity Soccer player Alexis Avila Bermeo received the All-Country, while Raphael Baez and Joaquin Perez earned All-Conference. District Varsity Girls Swimmer, sophomore Sarah Flynn, received the All-Conference and 100M Butterfly & 200 Medley Relay. Girls Cross Country earned distinction as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team with a team GPA of 93.496. Junior Manal Layachi represented the girls' team at the State-Qualifier Championships at Bethpage State Park on Saturday November 4th, 2023. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Spiral of Ants by Lemon Demon By Stephy Varughese Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Onedio Spiral of Ants - YouTube Over and over The pheromones, the overwhelming harmony Consuming the colony The Circle rules your life Chop, chop! Don't want to be late Lift up and carry your weight You've got no choice but to dance in a spiral of ants True bugs might laugh in your face Don't fret, you're leading the race Don't let the bastards step on your hands in a spiral of ants You can't remember where you came from (In a spiral of ants) You can't remember where you're going (In a spiral of ants) You can't remember knowing You are one ant Over, it's over The pheromones, the self-avoiding odyssey Consuming the colony The Circle rules your life Now, now! Don't run out of breath Don't feel surrounded by death, no Take the wheel, this could be your chance, in a spiral of ants False bugs, you'll soon be alone See how they drop like a stone You're free now forever to dance in a spiral of ants. Now you remember where you came from (From a spiral of ants) Now you remember where you're going (To a spiral of ants) You've got to keep it flowing. You are one ant (Over, over, over) Over and over The pheromones, the overwhelming harmony Consuming the colony Creating its own gravity Before we knew it, we became a hurricane. And the bugs who laughed got blown away. As we proclaimed: The Circle rules your life _______________________________________ Lemon Demon is a band made by internet star Neil Cicirega. Cicirega had been on the internet making funny videos like “The Harry Potter Puppet Pals,” Ultimate Showdown, random skits, and of course, Lemon Demon, since the late 2000’s and as a teenager. The song “Spiral of Ants” comes from one of his more recent albums, Spirit Phone , which focuses on strange phenomena in history, mixed with a story. I highly recommend listening to his music if you like weird indie songs and overall randomness with upbeat tunes. Spirit Phone is a great starter album if you are interested. The title “Spiral Ants” is a natural phenomenon that happens in real life to a certain species of ant. There are ants called Army Ants who, unlike other species of ant, are completely blind. This is because of their compound eyes that are used to sense light activity instead of sight. However, because of this, these army ants have a tough time sensing each other out. The solution to this problem is releasing specific pheromones so that the ant before them can sense their pheromone and vice versa. When the scent of the last ant gets lost, the ant before that ant gets confused and get cut off from the main pack. The ants then look over and over, following the wrong trail which makes them walk in a never-ending spiral. Because they aren’t aware that they are walking this spiral, they keep walking thinking that they are reaching their destination. This leads to them walking till they eventually die. This is called the Death Spiral or, in this case, the Spiral of Ants. The speaker is never mentioned in the song, but we can assume that the speaker is a high being or just a disembodied figure. This is proven by the speaker speaking directly about you especially in line 20 “Now, now! Don't run out of breath” and the constant use of “you’re” in the chorus. Repeatedly in the song, the speaker tells “you” which is to assume is the listener. Also, in the song, they refer to the listener as “one ant”. This would mean that we are considered “ants.” The tone of the song sounds repetitive, mysterious, and collected in the beginning then goes into a very upbeat tune while still keeping the same unsettling vibe. “Before we knew it, we became a hurricane” is a metaphor that compares ants to a hurricane. This whole song in itself however is a metaphor in itself because it's comparing us people the spiral of ants. The song’s theme or the message is that despite living in and endless death loop, you’ll always be part of society. What I mean by this is that the “spiral” represents society, and the ant, you. The song starts you off with an omen-type tone as if you were not there at all, yet everything is still in shape. In lines five though eleven, the song hurries you up as if to say, “Come on, it's time to start your life!” Everything in the tone feels like you are new, unfazed by death or harm. This is supported in the lines when “you can’t remember where you are going” or “you don’t know where you came from.” This proves that at this stage, you simply are naïve about how the “spiral” is. Like how they, “you are one ant” like, you are only just a person existing. Then when it says “true bugs might laugh in your face”, they are referring to people outside of your life or people who try to weigh you down. This is confirmed later in the song where it says, “And the bugs who laughed got blown away.” This shows that despite people weighing you down and making fun of status, they aren’t in a worse situation as you. This also shows the change you felt before about the outside bugs changed when you got more engulfed into the spiral for in the beginning, these bugs were called “true bugs” while later in the song, these true bugs were now called “fake bugs.” By the second verse, the sudden realization that you are being controlled by society kicks in. Especially when the speaker says, “don’t feel surrounded by death.” You are now realizing the reality of it all, yet you try to get ahold of yourself and be a leader since “it could be your chance in the Spiral of Ants.” Later on, as stated previously, all the true bugs become false bugs as you realize that the true bugs you looked up to aren’t the same bugs anymore. The chorus of the song, however, brings this statement farther up by saying that you know where you are going and doing yet all in all, you are still just an ant. Yet you work and work to keep that spiral going. Then the repetitiveness of “over” really hits hard on this sad outcome of life. Then reaching the last chorus, we see the noticeability of the destruction of life. The overwhelming harmony of society that “consumes” the colony still goes on and on from the moment you were born till now. The remaining lines reflect how chaotic and crazy everything is to you as even society makes “its own gravity.” Everything is swirling around like a hurricane and all scattered in a mess. However, in the last two lines, it shows that despite it all, the circle still rules your life and repeats itself over and over again. BACK TO TOP