Between Beauty and Emptiness by Minsung Kang (15, Philippines)

In the photo my father took last year, 
             my grandmother and I stand on the shaved 
grass in the front yard of her house 
             ​in Gonjiam. The sweet and fruity aroma 
of Mugunghwa flowers wafts across 
             the garden. I see the watercolor sky free 
of clouds and pigeons graze over 

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             the pine trees while a snail loafs on the branch 
of the cherry blossom tree, the summer 
             sun bursting on top of our heads. Fallen leaves ​​
drift by breeze and behind us glimmers 
             Hal-meo-ni’s two-story house with a navy colored 
roof, the pink and white royal azaleas blooming 
             amongst the medallion flowers. The Jindo 
at the corner of her garden sleeps on its paws 
             on the grass while the neighbor’s dog bays in front 
of their porch. I remembered thinking, somewhere, 
             someone’s stuck between beauty and emptiness.

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