The Royal CrestWinter 2026
Attending MembersAdvisor - Patricia PintoPaper Printer - Angela Graci, UDHSPrincipal - Dr. Craig ParkinsonThe Royal Crest is produced by the students and faculty ofUpper Darby High School601 North Lansdowne AvenueDrexel Hill, PA 19026Front cover photo by Gaby LyonsSylvia Langston - Editor in ChiefJoyce Kawira - Co-EditorRomel Aleman Preston ChavarriaOllie Davis Jaylah GeorgeMarvin Guaman Majaj JengoBen Kalantaridis Rosey LanctotGabriel Lewyckyj Cristian Lliguin-VargasEvin Morett Anthony PachecoHarrison Risko Sophia Williams
Upper Darby High SchoolDrexel Hill, PennsylvaniaWinter 2026 - Vol 48, No. 1
Death by the UnknownThe Unknown, the Unexpected, Un-Knowledgeable…I have knowledge of those I love I’ve seen the tragedies of Man’s Machines and Medival torture When Death comes It won't be by a creepy dude in some black cheap cloak I’ll be held by my rib cage and all 206 bones of my bodyMy eyelids will be over shadowMy new red gown will be worn Celebrate don't mourn me.UnknownJoyce Kawira
Artwork by Broderick Lowery
Cristian Lliguin-VargasDrainedLiving in it for 6 years nowThought it would be part of meEvery award every medalKnowledge engraved in my braindraining every single part of me No joy, no peace, no freedomEndless as a hamster wheelWishing to be just averageFeeling stuck with no improvement Wishing for that spark to light once more
This Page Lies to Preston ChavarriaFireFlies In the field,Soaring through the sky. I watch them light up Like a bunch of eyesFireFlies
Doing his homework next to meAt his grandmother’s houseReading up on chemistryYeah, I’ve got nothing to write.Love him dearly.Like a friend. Staring at my screenYet nothing comes to mindL is for Lion.V…I can’t think of anything else.Acrostic poems are tough.I guess good company’s enough.I’ve Been Very Busy. Here’s a Last-Minute Poem to Even Out the Number of Pages in the Magazine.Sylvia LangstonGrade 11
Death by something you love so dearly Rather call it addiction since it isDying by mass amounts of love seems prettyOne-hundred though, isn’t loveIt’s a massive needIf it I were to die by McChickensThen you can be sure that’s meAnthony Pacheco
Artwork by Allanah Dehaney
Two faced double lifeBy The “best” Poet Gabriel LewyckyjWhen a topic is discussed I like it on the outside but deep down I hate it. On the outside I support it but on the inside I think its a disgusting degenerate act but my two faces clash every time. I flip-flop on basically everything and change it every day I might not like it on the inside but I do on the outside
Just me and meAs happy as can beTwo peas in a podBoth in the same bodBut when one gets too bigThe other starts to sinkNow it's just meWith no one else to beNo one else to beBen Kalantaridis
Polar OppositesThe biggest irony in the worldIs that a beginning is just an ending unfurledNumbers, beacons of knowledge, now stripped of meaningBeing the best player on the field, yet still not succeedingWe start a new beginning, just to meet a new endA vicious ouroboros, whose body will never endBut so goes the world, who will one day be dustThe world's largest empire, is now rubble and rustHarrison Risko
Artwork by Mikayla Petteway
I Bought myself a fur coat I Bought myself a PorscheI wasted my money on a money management class that made me feel like spending moreI want my own customized mansionI want my face on a billboard I have many dollar bills in my pocket but I gave the poor man only FourCorruption’s a fly in my earI Bought designer headphones that told me not spending makes my pockets feel sore I won't stop spending till all my money’s a downpour. I won't stop my endless spending ‘til I get more and more…Wasteful WomanJoyce Kawira
Happy new year the year so freshBut everything is so staleHappy new year as I say “new year new me”But the habits stays constant Happy new year everyone so joyful and zone inBut a few hour into it death and zoned outHappy new year finally chance to fulfill everything I ever wantedBut to never accomplish anything and start the fake fantasies all over again
A voice in my head said, ‘’Could you do something for me? I know what I tell you to do will give you satisfaction and also me.I don't care who you believe in as long as you follow and see the pleasures of the world the big house and the money. The world don’t wait for you before you turn eighteen your supervision sucked that’s why your eyes are with beamed with glee.” Innocence doesn’t last long with the world of the internet and free roam to tv. But it’s not your fault nobody knew you could get so caught up In the bleeding strings of fomo and kids walking around with their cell blocks and graphic tees and utter ignorance of parents to their kid thinking they know me better than I know me. Digital Humanity.By Joyce kawira
Release ItWhen I wake up, I’m treated to treacherous work to do every hour with the most barebones lunch and someone always breathing down my neck. But when it is over I can't wait to get home because that is when I get to relax my stress and relieve my anger and release it. And if I put a little more work in I won't have to worry about working again.By Gabriel Lewyckyj
Artwork by Mahasin Hoque
If we look right down there, we see a cat. Of course, I took a photo of him for memories since I like saving these silly stickers to send to friends. To me, this represents silly and stupid. I may use this image to indicate those emotions in a fun situation. I like this cat. Rigby cat. Summarized and drawn by Anthony P. Based on a real cat, Rigby
MarvinThis poem is about a cutie A guy so so so so majestic Like a flying saucer in the skyA gorgeous human tanning in the beachA master of the finest craftOr he would be if he actually showed But even in absence, he shines so brightlyJust like the stars in the dark nightThat glow with a never-waning lightWhen the alignments are rightAnd the buckle is tightThis cutie hits just rightCristian Lliguin-VargasBen Ioakim KalantaridisHarrison Phillip RiskoGabriel Roman Lewyckyj
I'm tired of complainingEverything today just seems cynical and boringI have little energy, and feel like snoringI want to go and do something, but don’t think I canSo to soothe myself, I’ll just walk across the land. Harrison Risko
How are you doing?I’m pretty good.I’m justConfused.I am so confused.Where are my rights?What happened to due process?Why isn’t my mom here?I think I need a nurse.Oh, where to find one?In the streets?Protecting someone else?I’m still confused.Yet people ask me, “How are you doing?”My reply always remains the same:I’m Pretti Good
Artwork by Joseph Tankersly
“THE”The, a blank canvas to start a painting of wordsThe a shape that can be molded to fit any view The, a simpler word that can follow pens or swordsThe something that can end or make something anewThe is the first thing that many shall writeYou can write “the’s” into the night“The” can create and give new sightThe can also make you take flightHarrison Risko
Artwork by Alexis O’Shell
YouYou keep poking my veinsYou braids my nerves You hit me like a boxer's punch to the gut You come swiftly like winter reddening my noseYou entice questions I cannot yet answer. Joyce Kawira
20th Annual Poetry SlamInformational Meeting, Tuesday, April 28 from 2:50-3:05 Room 112 The competition is May 9, 2026, 11:00 AM During the Arts Festival Interested? Come to the informational meeting.- Bring TWO COPIES of an ORIGINAL poem - You will have 3 minutes to present - Presentation and Poem will be considered in the judging - Finalists must be available for the finals on May 9 th This is a Saturday. You will perform at the UDHS Art Festival. Questions? See Ms. Pinto in room 112 The Royal Crest is Upper Darby High School’s poetry club. This is a safe environment for students to share their thoughts, ideas, and words without risk or judgement. We meet in room 112 after school on most Thursdays..