April

This is where a twenty-cent popsicle melted,
glistening under the summer sun.

This is where a farmer stood
with his apples and cherries on the sidewalk.

This is where they left bike trails from their Sunday outing.

This is where a dog once chased a tabby through a sprinkler.

This is where a boy lost his first front tooth.

This is where newlyweds built their dreams,
and where an old couple closed their lives together.

This is where lost toy trucks and dolls and rubber ducks
lay in the bushes for many days.

This is where the green leaves turned reddish-brown,
year after year.

This is where some sobbed and cried,
while others celebrated.

This is where the land now lies barren,
where luggage was packed,
where cars drove away,
and where voices slowly faded.

April 8th

A still, settled atmosphere.

A bedroom door left slightly open.

Sheets tucked in tight.

Stuffed animals waiting on the bed.

Clean, cold pens aligned in a row.

A thin layer of dust resting on the tops of books.

Warm rays of sunlight seeping from behind closed drapes.

A pair of slippers neatly placed, untouched.

Outside,

the smell of dinner,

dishes clinking,

a television humming,

voices and footsteps passing by.

Summer Arrival

As I round the corner, he greets me,

standing on the sunlit, sandy steps—

small bare feet,

ruffled hair,

a sheer white dress,

and a cheeky grin.

The puppy trails behind,

his bell jingling with each tiny paw print,

his tail wagging eagerly.

Orange sunlight gleams against the vases and grains of sand,

filtering through outstretched bushes

of poppies and sunflowers,

and draping a gentle warmth over me.

Every bloom carries the freshness and fragrance

of a bright midsummer afternoon.

Then she rushes through the doorway,

an apron clutched in her hands,

half-worn sandals slipping across the porch.

The scent of fresh bread follows her out

and soon fills the entire front yard.

Abbie Huh is a student at an international high school in Seoul, South Korea. She is currently preparing a creative writing portfolio for university applications. In addition to writing poetry, she enjoys working with ceramics and exploring the connections between visual art and language. Her work often reflects an interest in memory, identity, and the details of everyday experience.