Beauty within the Periphery

By Alex Andy Phuong

Even with the reality
Of setting boundaries,
Life itself could still be
Truly extraordinary,
So be willing to embrace
Being part of the human race,
And witness the wonder
Of living in a world like no other,
And dare to care
By helping one another
So that people could hopefully see
With a newfound sense of clarity,
And find golden opportunities 
To become very bold
By forming compelling narratives
That must be told,
And ultimately live a life
Filled with everlasting beauty
By respecting any given periphery

Alex Andy Phuong earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University—Los Angeles in 2015.  He was a former Statement Magazine editor who currently writes about literature, film, and culture.  He also earned an Associate of Arts in English from Pasadena City College in 2013, and tutored there.  He has written hundreds of film reviews for MovieBoozer, and has contributed articles to Mindfray.  His writing has appeared in The Bookends Review and The Society of Classical Poets.  Emma Stone inspired Alex to submit writing actively to publications after hearing the Oscar-nominated song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the “Best Picture” nominee La La Land (2016).  His poetry collection is An Altruistic (Cyberwit.net, 2020).  Currently residing in Alhambra, California, he now writes with the sincerest hope to inspire readers while fully supporting the ones who dare to pursue their dreams.