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TOY BOX























1. Puzzle



I solved a 1000 piece puzzle today

There was no picture on the box

All the pieces were blank

I managed to slot them all together

Some pieces are jagged, like they're in the wrong spot

The puzzle is whole, so I left them






2. Legos



When building with Legos, there are legal and illegal building tactics

Legal designs are stable, long-lasting, and sturdy

Illegal designs are unique, personal, and creative

I combine the two
But they can end up looking wrong

Or falling apart




3. Slinky



How many holes does a slinky have?

• 0
• 1
• 2

How many coils does a slinky have?

• 1
• 2
• 20


The slinky is the same
No matter the numbers





4. Fisher Price



Fake kitchen, fake food, fake utensils, fake house

This environment feels surreal

Yet this play set is for me

And I know I am home














Francesca Balgoyen


My name is Francesca Balgoyen, and I'm a 22 year old UNLV graduate. I majored in Computer Science, but have always had a love for writing and poetry. Reading and analyzing different works has helped me in so many ways, and I hope that my work can be that for others as well. My work was made with the experience of being mixed race in mind. As someone half Asian and half white, along with being white passing, it took a long time for me to be able to accept that I am allowed to identify as Asian because that is what I am. I hope that my work captures the struggle of fitting in and allowing yourself to simply be.