Clamor

Student Led, Community Focused

Clamor is the University of Washington Bothell’s annual Literary and Arts Journal, representing the best creative practices in literary, visual and media arts from across our campus and surrounding community. Clamor is published by students for students and has been for seventeen years. We are currently working on producing our 2024 edition, scheduled for release in spring.

Representing the best of UW Bothell

In keeping with our name, our editorial mission is to uplift and bring together the diverse and emerging voices of our campus in a safe and supportive environment. Our goal is to shine a light on the best artistic practices of our community, and we seek to specifically center voices from traditionally uncentered communities.

Weekly Showcase

In an effort to bring attention to prior contributors whose work represents the best example of powerful, creative works of poetry, prose, and visual art, we are exited to showcase a few of our favorites. Check back regularly for new selections, and contact us through social media if you want to nominate a creative work to appear on Clamor‘s homepage.

Amethyst
By Sandy Chen (Published 2022)

The misery of the blue lantern on a cloud lit sky

And so, it goes through the passage of the slitted lid sky

Memories made, memories–washed ashore on barren sands

As they all brazenly turn westward true and permit sky

He reaches, falls and through and through and through and then… nothing

As we–each and every single one, chooses to omit sky

Ash Fallen stars with the gravity of the fallen sun

He, fix broken, frantic silver clacks thread knit sky

Flecks of gold, Wandering maiden in dress of linen white

She so bruised–soot marked covered dark against the pitted sky

Radom Courses of blue, turned red, turned black, turned dark, turned dim

I turned my back breaking light at the chosen unfit sky.

I am an Adopted Child of America
By John Kim, Published 2017

I am an American.
I was born in the land that bleeds red, sings blue, and remains white.

I am not white, however, and therefore I am an adopted child of America.
I am a child of this nation, but there isn’t a spot for me at the table.

I have brothers and sisters around me, many of whom are of color.
Yet our founding fathers and our founded mothers do not see us as their child.

I bleed red like you.
I sing blue like you.
But I am not White like you.

So what must I do?
How can I be accepted?

Won’t you tell me?

I am educated by American schools.
I speak American language.
I eat American food.
I enjoy American freedom.

But why isn’t there a place for me in your America?

I have brothers and sisters,
many of whom are not of color.
They see me differently.
They speak to me differently.
So I must realize that I have to live differently.
But must I accept that I am different?
Must I accept that I am not normal?

This is my America,

and I want to change it.