Ariya Bandy ’27 recently had her debut poetry chapbook, Painted Winds, published by Bottlecap Press.
From the publisher:
"What happens when you waltz so far from yourself that your feet no longer fit in your footsteps? Ariya Bandy’s debut chapbook, Painted Winds, traverses the journey from youth to young adulthood and counts splinters caught in the transition between innocence and independence.
"These fifteen poems are the rumble of anticipation that sweeps you through the sky when you have eyes on the future and a heart in the past. They explore what it means to live life and let it pass you.What happens when growth and grief weave themselves into a crown to guide you to what parts of yourself will shed or remain.”
Bandy, who is considering majoring in creative writing at Bryn Mawr, says she’s been writing or imagining stories for as long as she can remember and started writing poetry in high school.
At Bryn Mawr, Bandy has taken Intro to Creative Writing, taught by fellow poet Sanam Sheriff '18.
“I absolutely loved being able to learn about and discuss craft while also giving and receiving feedback from my classmates,” says Bandy.
In addition to Painted Winds, Bandy's work has been published by Querencia Press, Iceblink Literary Magazine, and Moonbow Magazine. Her work can also be found on her website.
“My experience at Bryn Mawr has been incredible,” says Bandy. “The students have been so welcoming and supportive, and my professors have been wonderful. Everyone in the Bryn Mawr College community has great passion for their interests, and it really inspires me to pursue mine!"