Melanie Diaz, “The Witch’s Wrath,” Collage, Mixed Media, 2026
The Weight of Hatred Grows Heavy
Sam Smith
TV static eyes and pursed lips
Sit opposite of clenched jaws at the kitchen table
Where you gorge yourself
On snake oil behind locked doors
And closed curtains
Okay, okay, okay, I got it
My lungs have no place here anymore
Because the salesman is more faithful
To the pages of your Bible
He helped put together
The gun you keep for anyone but yourself
Is loaded only with the venom
Of yesterday’s headlines
Water your astroturf in the bunker you use to hide
From your neighbor’s birthday party
While their laughter swells,
Your shelter will bloat
With worry that you will
Become like them
It is a wonder why the world
Is on fire, everywhere
But your neighborhood
Melanie Diaz was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She started pursuing an art career in August 2025. She’s in her second semester at Phoenix College and majoring in Graphic Design. She found an interest in collage work and art history, which inspired this piece.
Sam Smith, not to be confused with the Grammy award winning artist of the same name, is a long time Phoenix resident and self-identified late bloomer. She is a mixed media artist and cat enthusiast. Her biggest inspiration is Ozzy Osbourne.
RISE 