By David Kim

Santiago

I hop off the bus, 
Hailed a hero for bringing my Nintendo DS 

The Autumn wind 
The smell of the mountain snow 
The pastel orange sky shimmers 

I face the buildings, 
The mountain peaks still shimmer behind
A long march ensues

The sidewalk trickles people 
Construction workers, helmets covered with stickers red, white, and blue 
Businessmen, wearing penguin-like suits 
College students, consuming coffee and treats

The stray dogs casually walk past 
They limp toward one another 

The traffic manager, with his orange vest, acts as a cone 
Cars and busses swerve around his small circle 

I follow the cracking cement of the sidewalk 
Knowing that it would lead to my apartment 

A grey dog, sprinkled with brown and black patches, limps 
I stare at the dog’s pitiful journey 
I watch the mighty metallic bus zoom away

The dog flies,
Its limbs flail in the air 
I look with horror 
The sidewalk specked with hot velvety blood 

The walk continues 	
I forget the flying dog 
I forget the cracked cement 
I walk till my eyes rest on my oblivious mother,
Waiting to take me in

The Morning 

As I gaze upon the pond, 
Their movement so fluid, 
They never falter through the sun and rain 

In the days of scorching heat or bitter cold, 
They continue 
With their resilience on display 

Even in my darkest days 
My dreadful minutes 
I gaze at the collected minds of these graceful creatures

They calmly stare into my 6 am silhouette 
Reminding me that I must not falter even through my worst obstacles 
That I must persevere through the ice cold of my many hurdles. 

I let go of the wooden railings of the pond 
They guide me with their smooth movements 
I march to the path of my future, 
Not my demise 

A day will be bitterly cold 
A day will be scorchingly hot 
But no day would be complete without me fighting through 

Morning Ducks 

As I gaze upon the pond, 
Their movement so fluid, 
The ducks never falter through the sun and rain 

In the days of scorching heat or bitter cold, 
The ducks continue 
With their resilience on display 

Even in my darkest days 
My dreadful minutes 
I gaze at the collected minds of the graceful birds

The ducks calmly stare into my 6 am silhouette 
Reminding me that I must not falter even through my worst obstacles 
That I must persevere through the ice cold of my many hurdles. 

I let go of the wooden railings of the pond 
The ducks guide me with their smooth movements 
I march to the path of my future, 
Not my demise 

A day will be bitterly cold 
A day will be scorchingly hot 
But no day would be complete without me fighting through 

David Kim is a high school student at Seoul International School in South Korea who has a passion for writing. He is currently working hard to build his portfolio for university applications. When he is not writing, David can be found listening to music, playing video games, or exploring new places in the city. He is excited to see where his writing journey takes him and hopes to share his work with others through your publication. Thank you for considering him!

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