Overlooking the Junction by Jaewon Chang (17, Philippines)*

the cars flitting through the street
the droplets of rain caressing the leaves

the waiting for the stoplight to change
the glass of water translucent

the hoping for the absence of jaywalkers
the fedora etched on the surface of the table
​
the knowing that a road without cars comes
faster than the stoplight turning green

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the humming of 90s jazz heard nearby
the inability of waiters to pronounce names

the addictive melody of flipping pages
the man drinking a sip of cocktail across
​
the street hinting
the end of a story