L A GN I AP P EVolume 7 | May 2023
Untitled flowersSoo Hyun Choi2
editorialDear reader,Thank you so much for picking up (or clicking a link to) this magazine. I can’tbelieve we’re about to publish the final issue of my medical school career. Itfeels like only yesterday that I texted the founder of Lagniappe, begging for acreative outlet with which I could escape my thousands of Anki cards. I had noidea it’d become one of my favorite things to talk about (especially duringinterviews), and it’s something I’m immensely proud to have been able toinfluence and shape throughout my time here.There is no real theme of this issue, but I think that’s what makes it fun. Weoften have such heavy, dark and emotional pieces, so we decided to lightenthis one up a bit. There is a little bit of everything, from recipes to flowers togood-old-fashioned black and white photography. It’s kind of a mess, but whoisn't? I can safely say that my med school experience has been all over theplace, and I think this issue adequately captures that feeling.I cannot express enough how much your art and literature have inspired methroughout the years, and I encourage you to keep writing, drawing, takingpictures, cooking; whatever it is you do to take your mind off of medicine.Don't let medical school dampen your drive to create - the best thing I didhere was find a way to express myself and help guide the self-expression ofmy classmates.Finally, I am excited to announce Lagniappe's new leadership, the evercapable Jeremy, Ally, and Grace. I am so excited to see where they take themagazine, and I could not trust them more. I can’t wait to read Volume 8!With love,Emma Newton :)Managing Editor 3
T A B L E o f C O N T E N T SUntitled 1-3..........................................................................06Christopher SakerThe Human Sound............................................................08Tessa LavorgnaYou Grow Girl......................................................................09Karin VidelefskyNew Orleans in Black and White...............................10Madison Gerahian To Be, On Baru....................................................................12Devan Rottman Untitled 11...........................................................................14Sam JohnsonSketch....................................................................................16Anonymousuntitled..................................................................................17Anand PatelQuiver of Men.....................................................................18AnonymousLights Out.............................................................................19Blair EastonUntitled 2..............................................................................20Soo Hyun ChoiSleep Hygiene......................................................................21Shephaly Soni Alternative Endings..........................................................22anonymousSea Two..................................................................................24Blair EastonMy Church's Chicken..............................................25Marc GebaraWelcome Home, Spring.........................................26Karin VidelefskyEarly...............................................................................27Lauren BalentineShame Cannot Survive Empathy......................28Shephaly Soni Portals...................................................................,.......29Laura Hein Fade Into You..............................................................30Laura Hein T4 Advice .....................................................................31Static..............................................................................32Taylor SantoroUntitled 7.....................................................................34Sam Johnson Diamond-Studded Meatballs...............................36Caroline CsengeDate-Nut Cake...........................................................38Mallory CrouchChicken and Waffles...............................................40Mary SikiCreator Index.............................................................42Description Index.....................................................44V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 34
Emma NewtonManaging Editor, Design Sue ChoiEditor in Chief, DesignTaylor SantoroArt Editor, DesignDaniel DellalLiterature EditorGrace CannardLiterature EditorCharles PeperLiterature EditorMichela GarabedianLiterature EditorPatrick McCarty Art EditorE D I T O R I A L B O A R DShephaly SoniArt Editor, DesignLauren BalentineTreasurer, Literature EditorJeremy FaganPublic RelationsMarc GebaraLiterature Editor Magdalena PalacArt EditorOtisMascotV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 35
Untitled 1-3Christopher Saker V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 36
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Who am I, to want quiet? The Human SoundTessa LavorgnaV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 38
You Grow Girl V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 39
New Orleans In Black and WhiteV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 310 2
Madison GerahianV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 311
Rose climbs at midnight. In fog, or clouds?Over the ribs shed by the mother oak, Sternum shaped bark,Turned to crunchy percussion Under her hammydown REI boots. A necessary loss-Don’t you think?To climb? Lost,To the memories of ghosts Living through breathesThat ripple and shake the choir of dominating oaks. She dare not look up.To the peak-For sinly jealousy of the Harpy Eagle, That dips inAnd outOf the cloud ceiling Unaware of the glass,Which cracked the skulls of unburied women.Or the vineyard vine gallumping tourists, Plopping along in a jeep,Bopping and popping to the top.A boy breaches the sunroof so quick his chubby cheeks oscillate, He lashes his murderess eyes back toe-wards,Sentencing Rose with a sausage shaped finger. Her eyes to earth–A tissue trashed in her snot. FOR SHAME.His cruel walnut eyes priden, they move up towards. Onward!Off. PlopBy plop,He bops To the top!Deep in this undead mount brews molten rock, So furious and divine,It will burst to shatter and lay this city new.Devan Rottman To Be, On BaruV O L . 7 12
Could you hear the moment the liquid lava crafts granite? Cutgravel on skates.Could you feel the molecular shift?Waves of water structured to bureaucratic ice. An ocean of white taped octagons,Craving to descend to depth.Where the untamed angelfishthrashes then absorbs her mateunceremoniously.Rose is no breaker of glass.Altitude will lift her gut and send her falling, Hop scotching,Skip pipping,tumbling crumbling, down, Skullward.Grateful to miss the sunrise–The moment where the cleanblack air, Unleashes an ungreen flashOf rippling light,Which crashes on leaves.Two hours early!To shiver in the dark?Afterall we are blind tourists to this black earthed climb, Map unlit.Certainly her tiniest toes, unsocked, would shade blue. So much better,To be falling.Tumbling alongthe flying skulls, Limbs akimbo,Gasping their borrowed breath. Wouldn't it be fine?To own one secular function. To temporarily hold the weightOf one lost traveler’s muddiedsole,Descending to neutral.She stumbles,Tossing her rib shapedwalking stick, To a timed masked traveler.Who will hear dawn’s bell, Witness the flash at sunrise, Name it green.M A Y 2 0 2 313
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untitled 11 - Sam JohnsonV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 32 15
Child insideFrom the salt of the earthIf only you could see me The lines of time grow thinner These circles and needles of light(1)Every winter day Every summer night I watch them and think of you I ask you Carve my imaginations Steal my dreamsPaint them now Seven lines For seven links It's time, I knowFrom the flesh to the mind Seven lines For seven links I have to paint them, I know It's time to paint them(1) sketchanonymousV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 316
untitledAnand Patel V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 317
Quiver of MenanonymousI slowly pull oneceremoniouslyup over my shoulderand knock him on the string.I wrap my fingers around him,and grip the bow with a firm grasp.Long shaft. Definitely 8+ inches.I pull him straight backuntil he rests on the soft round of my cheek,For once seeing eye to eye.His hard tip rests on my left forefingeras I take my time to aim.muscles tenseeyes sharpstring tautlungs stillWith confidence,vulnerability,and a little faith,I release him.He thuds straight into my heart.Bullseye. I just know it.I take my time walkingup to the target.My eyes keep squintingtrying to will my heart into focus from so far away.It’s getting closer and closer.Soon enough I start to run.Damn.Not even close.He hit a tree.Exploded on impact.Really thought he was gonna make it.Oh well.I’ll just draw another from my quiver of men.V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 318
Lights Out 2Blair EastonV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 3
FigureSoo Hyun ChoiV O L . 7 20
Sleep HygieneShephaly SoniV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 321
Alternative endingstw; suicideV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 322
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Sea Two| Blair Easton1 8
I will never forget my first pet: a three-day old chick. My church hosts afestival twice a year where they included a petting zoo for the kids. Forwhatever reason, the petting zoo could not keep the smaller animals,which included chicks, ducklings, hamsters, guinea pigs, and more afterthe event ended. A desperate attempt to get rid of the animals ensued:kids were being chased by farmers holding all kinds of animals. Whenone of them approached me and asked if I wanted this chick the onlyreply I could think of was “sure.” So me and my friend Josh decided that if this creature was to becomepart of my family we had to make it official. We went inside the churchand baptized it with some of the common holy water. While Josh said Iquiet prayer I proclaimed in front of God: “I christen thee chicken, ElliottGebara.” After it was all said and done I realized I had to get my mom’s permissionto bring home my new son. I called her and asked: “mom can I bringhome a chicken?” to which she said ok. Imagine her shock when I camehome with furry chicken as opposed to breaded. We kept Elliot thechicken in our garage and I would take him out for walks. I did not need aleash because Elliott would follow me wherever I went. I fed him seedsand made him a bed to sleep in out of an old shoebox. I never knew howmuch I could love chicken until I met Elliott. One day when I returned from school, I went to the garage to walk Elliott.When I couldn’t find him I went inside the house to ask my mom where hewas. When she told me she gave him away to a farm it was like someonepunched me in the gut. All I ever wanted was a pet and even though Ionly had him for one week I felt like I was chosen to care for him. It turnsout that raising a farm animal is especially difficult if you do not live onfarm, as Elliott was defecating all over the garage on a near constantbasis. My time with Elliott taught me that things unfold as they are meant to. Ihave come to accept that I was not meant to be a farmer raisingchickens, but a medical doctor treating patients in this fine city. My Church’s ChickenMarc GebaraV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 31 8 25
Welcome Home, SpringKarin VidelefskyV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 326
We all felt it when she died.The earth shudderedas the girl, almost a woman,was dragged out of Sky’s sight.She’d be here any minute now.I am always certain.Like Death and taxes - and I do both.Clink.The coin’s toll was louder than usual.At least she could afford it,unlike those unfortunate ones.I watched her climb in,her blank face staring into nothing,not a thought in her eyes.Woe is me!the current was strong today.I felt vibrations in the water, peroxidebubbling with unrest.No one wanted to see her here.After she stepped onto shore,I watched her move away.That damn dog was barkinglike crazy on the other side.All those ears must’ve heard something.But I heard it thengetting louder and loudertowards the door.It was coming from outside.By gods, it was sweet.Gushed inside like honeyfrom a slice of the comb.hint: this was inspired by afamous Greek myth; read ina slow southern drawl.EarlyLauren BalentineHe brokeout of the darkness,treading straight towards me.We didn’t speak,but the flesh was striking,his complexion hopefuland eyes searching.I sighed with reluctance.Even I wouldn’t dare refuse Him.I was damn sure going to keep her coin, though.I never liked these kinds of bargains.That stupid boxgave them all sorts of ideas.This was fuel to that fire.She was waitingright where I left her.This time we driftedacross smooth glass,only a slight waketo tell us we were moving.No one wanted her to stay.A soft thud greeted us at the shore.She was ready, but reserved.He led her single fileup the well-worn stepstowards the door.Even the dog kept a keen eyeas they disappeared into the dark.Modesty is foreign to me,but I was as close as I ever was to it then.A mortal with four stringsand decent lungshad turned the under over.As my acceptance was brooding,I heard a faint whisper.“Farewell.”She soon drifted out of the same darknessinto the red glow.He was too early,and then it was too late.I was certain again.V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 327
Shame Cannot Survive EmpathyShephaly SoniV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 328
Laura Narayan Hein PortalsV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 3
Fade Into You | Laura Hein V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 330
T4 Advice If you don't know something, look it up. If you forget something,look it up. Be googling things all day long. It's easy to skate bywithout knowing much, but you'll only hurt yourself in the enddoing so.Draw boundaries NOW as an act of discipline and self-love.Medicine can be all consuming, but only if you let it. It’snever too soon to build boundaries in whatever wayeffectively protects your happiness and helps to maintainyour passion for this career path.Don’t hit reply all whenanswering an email (;)Enjoy your life as much as possible. Make sureto keep doing the things that you want to do!V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 331Don't lose yourself along the way. Med school can seem to takeover your life at times, but make sure to make time for thethings to love to do. A few exam points are not worth losingyour spirit.
StaticV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 3Taylor Santoro32
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untitled 7 | Sam JohnsonV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 3
Makin' GroceriesV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 335
Diamond-StuddedMeatballsV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 336
Ingredients: DirectionsEnjoy! V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 337
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CHICKENANDWAFFLESMary SikiV O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 340
Baked Yogurt Chicken Tenders (adapted from https://diethood.com/baked-chicken-tenders-chili-yogurt-sauce/)1/2 lb chicken breasts or 6 chicken tender filets1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt1 lemon1/4 tsp salt3/4 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs1/2 tsp garlic powder1/2 tsp paprikaBlack pepper1 tbsp parsley, chopped2 tbsp grated parmesan cheesePreheat the oven to 400 F.Combine Greek yogurt, zest of 1 lemon, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and salt. Add chicken tenderpieces and stir to coat. Let marinate for 10 min.Combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper to taste, parsley, andparmesan cheese in a shallow bowl or pan.Coat each tender in the breadcrumb mixture and place on a lined baking sheet.Bake for 15-18 min or until internal temperature reaches 165 F and they are golden ontop.M A Y 2 0 2 341
Creator IndexAnand Patel | UntitledBlair Easton | Lights Out, Sea TwoCaroline Csenge | Diamond-Studded Meatballs Caroline is a fourth year at Tulane applying into OB/GYN. She grew up just outsideof New York and when she is not rolling meatballs, you can find her in her garden orvolunteering at ARNO (Animal Rescue of New Orleans) trying to get as much time inwith the animules as she can!Christopher Saker | untitled Christopher Saker is a fourth year student and Tulane from Bloomfield Hills, MI. Heenjoys long walks on the beach, playing sports on a sunny day, and spending timewith friends and family. Devan Rottman | To Be On Baru Devan is a fourth year at Tulane's School of Medicine --she is a Divemaster wholoves to surf and wants to improve her rock-climbing skills (to clean an anchor—anyone have tips?) This poem is based on a true story of a solo midnight hike up aVolcano in Panama and inspired by the work of Amanda Gorman and ShondaRhimes.Karin Videlefsky | Welcome Home, Spring; You Grow GirlKarin Videlefsky is a third-year medical student from Atlanta, GA who grew upamong her big loving Jewish extended family. She loves spending time outside,playing basketball, painting, and planting daffodils with The Daffodil Project. Laura Hein | Portals, Fade Into You Laura is a medical student at Tulane interested in psychiatry and infectious disease.She enjoys growing flowers, cooking for the zombie apocalypse, writing comicsabout neurodivergence, and taking her pitbull Keke on magical adventures.Lauren Balentine | EarlyMadison Gerahian | New Orleans in Black and WhiteMadison Gerahian is a 1.5 year at Tulane (who is still unsure what that meansexactly) from St. Pete Beach, Florida. She spends her time reading, going on longwalks, and making overly specific Spotify playlists. V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 342
Marc Gebara | My Church's Chicken Marc is a third year at TUSOM. He is from Houston, Texas and his interests includevideo games, biking, and spending time with his friends and family.Mary Siki | Chicken and Waffles Mary Siki is a fourth year at Tulane. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia,she is continuing her medical adventure in the Midwest as a general surgeryresident at Washington University in St. Louis. She loves singing, bayou hangs, andin the spirit of Ina Garten anything homemade (but store bought is fine).Mallory Crouch | Date-Nut Cake Mallory Crouch is a Louisiana native from the small town of Amite. She enjoyseating oysters, listening to live music, and sharing good times with family andfriends.Sam Johnson | Untitled 7, Untitled 11Shephaly Soni | Shame Cannot Survive Empathy, Sleep HygieneShephaly is a third year medical student at Tulane University SOM who uses art toprocess her experiences with mental health and medicine. She has a Bachelor ofScience and Arts in Fine Arts and Biology from Carnegie Mellon University and aMasters in Public Health from The University of Texas. Her work explores conceptsthrough various organ systems and uses plant imagery to symbolizetransformation and growth after trauma.Soo Hyun Choi | Untitled flowers, FigureSoo Hyun (Sue) Choi is an outgoing fourth-year medical student at TulaneUniversity School of Medicine and will be completing her dermatology residency atHenry Ford Hospital. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and French atTulane University prior to joining the MD program. Her experiments in art andwriting often consider themes of heritage, upbringing, and history.Taylor Santoro | StaticTaylor is an outgoing fourth-year medical student at Tulane University school ofMedicine and will be starting her OBGYN residency at Brown University/Womenand Infant's Hospital in Providence, RI. Art has always been a major part of her life,starting as a small child coloring in cartoons her dad drew for her to majoring inStudio Art in college. Her biggest inspirations come from playing with color, lightand the natural environment. Tessa Lavorgna | The Human Sound43
Untitled | Christopher Saker ; To my high-school-self, my inspiration for sculptingthese pieces was to "make something cool looking". However, as I reflect on them, Irealize they may have been the spark that lit my passion for medicine.The Human Sound | Tessa Lavorgna ; This poem is an existentialist piece exploringhow current societal themes of de-speciation, climate change, and the impact ofhuman civilization can, and should, take root within our psyche from time to time -despite the discomfort this may cause.You Grow Girl | Karin Videlefsky ; Created while volunteering on a farm in Tasmania.New Orleans in Black and White | Madison Gerahian ; In my free time, I often go forwalks around the city. These four images are from moments during these walks. Thenature of the black and white film gave the city an ethereal feeling, capturing thetimeless element of the streets and parks that lends to the singularity of NewOrleans.To Be On Baru | Devan Rottman ; Shonda Rhymes Address "Breaking the GlassCeiling", "Burnout Stopping the Stress Cycle", "As You Like It", "Hamlet"Sketch | Anonymous ; Adapted from a song I like. Poem about someone who isacknowledging how as you age, time moves faster, while reconciling with his innerchild/heart that he wants his inner child to speak through him. Quiver of Men | Anonymous ; The ridiculousness of trying to play cupid on yourself.Lights Out 2 | Blair Easton ; There are three individuals in this drawing and etchingseries. There is the seated man and the boy to his left. The third is the knee of theseated man. It is a woman, with her back to the viewer. She is intended to beambiguous with a mangled knee. The relationship between the three is still unknownto me. Nevertheless, they form an interesting trinity, and there were plenty ofchances to play with perspective in their little room.V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 344d e s c r i p t i o n s
Sleep Hygiene | Shephaly Soni ; Ceramic pillows made In an effort to reconcile myInsomnia and the constant battle to resolve fatigue In the face of changingpersonal and academic demands. The texture of glistening varnished sculpturesagainst the soft backdrop of a real pillow shows this struggle. Alternative endings | Laura Narayan Hein ; based on real-life events. inspired by thewords of : Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, RiseAgainst, Homer, Robert Frost, Shakespeare + Lagniappe's bold, brave + beautifulwriters. Suicide hotline: 988 you're gonna be ok. Welcome home, Spring | Karin Videlefsky ; A calm spring day in California, with rosesbursting up the house wall.Early | Lauren Balentine ; Our assignment was to choose a piece of art as inspirationfor a poem. I chose this greek myth. Shame Cannot Survive Empathy | Shephaly Soni ; Acrylic on birch. On the feeling ofunlearning patterns of shame that have been built over a long time. Plants that takea very long time to grow. Puya chilensis (sheep-eater) Cardiocrinum giganteum(Giant Himalayan Lily) Selenicerus grandiflorus (night-blooming cereus).Portals| Laura Narayan Hein ; Yes I did ask the couple if I could take their photo first,consent is sexy y’all! Fade Into You | Laura Narayan Hein ; I enjoy writing comics about mental health,music, and medicine as therapy. I made a series of sketches I call two-minute tots ft.tater tots as main characters to reduce the pressure I put on myself while drawing.Static | Taylor Santoro ; A study of interconnectedness. Diamond-Studded Meatballs | Caroline Csenge ; This is my family's meatball recipeand the story behind how they made both my great grandfather and his restaurantNew Orleans famous in the 1950s.Date Nut Cake | Mallory Crouch ; Recipe from my great grandmother.V O L . 7 M A Y 2 0 2 345d e s c r i p t i o n s , c t d .
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