2018 Sejong Writing Competition

Winning Entries :: Sijo

Aidan Choo (10th grade)

first place

The Grandmaster's Immortal

He moved the queen down and smiled; onlookers stopped to watch.
With checkmate in sight, he was just toying with his opponent
who had wandered off to play with the pigeons, “C’mon grandpa!”

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Gabe Foulk (10th grade)

second place

Unique

More often than not, I wish I was like everyone else.
The kids at school make fun of me, and it makes me extremely upset.
But if I was like them, I would make some other kid feel bad.

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Luke Eckler (12th grade)

third place

Death of a Beetle

I killed a beetle this morning without batting an eye.
I went home and saw my family, my parents, my sisters.
Unlike the beetles, whose family wait up for him to come home.

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Mari Caldero (11th grade)

honorable mention

Dazed

The flaming sun gleamed in the sky.
The birds sung to the world.
The flowers bright, as butterfly wings,
revealed life’s beauty to me.
Suddenly, my teacher yelled,
“Focus on your test, young lady!”

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Gigi Copeland (9th grade)

honorable mention

Canadians

The sharp wind
Snaps at my bones
As icy fangs
Cut me apart
My love gone
With summer’s ghost
His warm smile kept
In my trembling heart
Distantly..
“Bit warm today, eh?”
Canadians
On cold days

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Meghana Karanth (10th grade)

honorable mention

Young Love

The wind kissed him, as the sun met the grass; the butterflies danced,
with joy and merriment, creating a colorful painting.
Such was the day, when the little brother found the flower.

Time seemed to slow down, as her emerald eyes met his.
Butterflies also danced, but this time, with anxiousness.
Such was the time, when the older brother found his flower.

He could not believe, such a precious item existed.
Divine, and angelic yet, so delicate. Its white and fluffy shape,
which seemed to hold all of his dreams. Tightly.

He could not believe, that she existed, like a pure goddess.
Powerful, but still fragile. Her smile that shows her white, perfect teeth,
which seemed to hold all of his dreams. Tightly.

Its mesmerizing and hypnotizing appearance,
made him long for it. 'How beautiful', the little brother thought.
But, as he reached for the flower, the wind blew it away.

Her fascinating and captivating appearance,
made him long for her. 'How beautiful', the older brother thought.
But, as he stole another glance, her lover took her away.

‘It was a weed! How it tricked me’, said the little brother.
The older brother said, ‘A weed it is, she is a trickster’.
And the two broken hearts drifted, into the sunset.

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Sung Jung Kim (12th grade)

honorable mention

Hunger

Claws sharpened, the wild beasts appear,
        Growling, howling, barking.
Covered in blood, they struggle
        To win the final battle.
I sit at the dinner table,
        Watching my friends fight over fries.

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Claire Lawrence (12th grade)

honorable mention

Daydream

The sun shines, as the clouds twirl.
The sea lifts me, as chills uproar.
In salt-filled air, my skin glows.
Nothing but happiness and smiles
my world fades—oh what a blur.
“Wake up please. Class is over.”

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Cole Siepmann (12th grade)

honorable mention

Danger

I am scared. I run away.
Sirens screech, gunfire soars.
Bullets fly, I search for cover.
Whimpering, I can’t escape.
My brother laughs, shooting a toy gun.
“Got ya!” he says. “Let’s play again.”

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Toni Smith (11th grade)

honorable mention

Belated Breakfast

One cup of coffee ready to pour.
Two pieces of wheat toast to eat.
Three spreads of grape jelly.
Four minutes to get ready.
Cat steals my toast, then spills my coffee.
Now, I’m five minutes late.

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Bryce Toussaint (12th grade)

honorable mention

Season That Never Comes

I lace up stiff metal cleats,
jog yellow foul pole to foul pole,
strap on rugged batting gloves,
and take ground balls off the infield turf.
But it’s still minus four outside—
forty two days till first pitch.

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