The Room

The room hums softly 

with the sound of kids playing in the snow

a wooden table embedded with marks from countless dinners

the sound of silverware echoes in the silence

My brother, with his elbows propped up

grins wide, 

immersed in the YouTube video playing on his phone

He barely pays attention to his plate

despite the piles of rice in his bowl

He sloppily stuffs his face with a single spoon

Dad sits across from him, 

calm but stern

His eyes scan the room, watching over the dinner table

He slowly sips the barley tea

as he briefly touches my brother’s arm

when he laughs too loud

He slowly raises his set of chopsticks and spoon

carefully placing the banchan on top of his rice

As Things Pass

A leaf skates across the sidewalk,

Caught in a swirl of wind

It lands with a sigh 

On the edge of a curb, unnoticed

A constant flow of people move beneath skyscrapers

A woman in a red coat pauses at the end of the street,

Her scarf fluttering in the wind

She clutches a small paper bag

(maybe lunch or a gift) tightly in one hand

She jaywalks against the crowd of cars

Like a true new yorker

Nearby, a man sits on the curb

Shoes untied, a cigarette dangles from his lips

As he exhales

The smoke slowly makes its way into the air

Across the street, a bike messenger cuts through the crowd

His tires spraying water from the recent rain

A pigeon pecks at an old napkin

Its head bobbing in sync with the others

The air smells thick 

Of hairspray, shampoo, or something chemical

A row of mirrors stretches down the wall, 

Each face with different emotions

A woman grinning, thrilled with her new haircut

While a young man forced a smile, his eyes cast down

Feels Different These Days

The North Pole feels colder these days

The stars seem dimmer, and the snow less pure.

Even the elves, once bustling in cheer 

sit in silence, unsure of their purpose

Once, the children believed…

their letters fulfilled wishes and dreams,

that Father Christmas would soar across the night sky

with Rudolph’s red nose, and his other reindeer friends

that their snowmen would start talking

But now, the world is different.

Children no longer sit by the windows,

staying up all night for a glimpse of his sleigh

Now, they sit in silence,

heads bent low, eyes fixed on screens.

Katie Hong is a high school student based in Seoul, South Korea, whose love for poetry is surpassed only by her passion for baking and spending time with her puppy, Loki. With a gift for words and a keen eye for detail, Katie weaves intricate tapestries of emotion and imagery in her poetry, inviting readers to embark on self-discovery and introspection. When she’s not immersed in the world of poetry, Katie can be found in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors and textures to create delicious treats that delight the senses. With a zest for life and a boundless imagination, Katie is committed to sharing her voice with the world and making a meaningful impact through her writing.