The Eckleburg Project

Texas A&M's Official Literary Journal

The Eckleburg Project is the official undergraduate literary journal of Texas A&M University. We are an undergraduate organization featuring student poetry, prose, and art. Now with thirteen issues under our belt, we started with the idea that art should be free and easily accessible to the community.

Our staff is composed of undergraduate students and editors who select pieces to be published semesterly under a process of blind review. For information on how to join, go to our apply page. For information on how to submit, go to our submissions page. For general inquiries, or just to say hello, contact our organizational email at theeckleburgproject@gmail.com.

As always, we thank you for your support as we continue to foster art here at Texas A&M.

Doughy Cookies Are Never Enough by Amira Mazzawy

I’ve baked a million times,

Probably burnt a few on my first try.

But I’m older now, I should know better 

How cookies are made.

375°, 10 minutes, just slightly brown

Around the edges, a perfect cookie

To fit my reputation and skills.


Today, though, I wanted bigger ones.

Not thinking too much, I take

The ice-cream scoop, making size

Of Texas mounds of dough.  Granted,

I should have changed the temperature,

Lengthened the time, remembered my 

Reputation.


Yet none of these things were done.

Instead, the cookies became large,

But were undercooked.  I put one in my

Mouth, squish the dough, feel my error.

These aren’t the best.  They’re 2nd

Place… Never Enough.


I sob over the cookie sheet, my

Reputation soft and undone.


© Texas A&M The Eckleburg Project, 2023