Violet's Tea Poem

Violet’s Tea Poem

Each year, our senior class participates in the Annual Fundraising Tea, participating in set up, food service, and as speakers. Violet McMurray ’25, a student passionate about writing and horse riding. shared the following poem during this year’s tea.

Click here to watch a video of the full event including Violet’s reading of her poem.

At first we were all just a collection
Of glowing yellow abdomens drifting across a darker background
I was soft and small once-
A tangle of twisting blonde hair
Dancing to old vinyl and birthday candles
Flickering across silk spread frosting
Swaying their fiery hips
to the rhythm of my breathing
I wished for simple things so simple
Only a little girl could wish them

Growing out of innocent unknown
We become keenly aware of that dark background
Only to look closely and see it isn’t
Just dark like I thought it was
Mom cries sometimes too
Suddenly I am not just being held
I am holding
Soup and bedtime stories passed down generations
Her light did not become mine but together we are brighter
Candle-dipped fingertips and cranberry cheeks chipped from smiling

We needed the fragile oblivion of childhood
To bring us to this moment
To feel so singular-
To be just that one song and a set of careless footsteps
So that one day that little girl could remain

Brimming with light from within
Now I am ready to appear in this beautiful asphodel
Looking out over its endless fields
I watch her
Wearing a dress sewn out of wildflowers
Laughing and darting and ducking between its blades
A light to the world.

Recent Blog Posts:

Alumni Shannon in India

Alumni Profile: Shannon Ross ’14

,
After studying and traveling the world, she is back in Ojai and runs her company Springer, which develops innovative products for pets.
Malika Group D 1985

Alumni Profile: Malika Lindsay ’90

,
Malika attended Oak Grove from 1984 to 1990 when she graduated as the school’s first Black student and first OGS class to travel to India. She currently lives in Mississippi, where she works as a college counselor and independent educational consultant.
Open House 2024

In Service of Our School for Open House

, ,
In preparation for welcoming all of our current students and families for Open House, our high school held its first Service Day of the year.