Issue 6
By Katie Hong
Mona Lisa, Age Twelve by Fernando Botero
The veil collects the dimness
of the room, its edges
slow to separate from the dark.
Light crosses her forehead without stopping,
then lingers along her cheeks
as though the afternoon
has farther to travel
than expected.
Her sleeves swell toward the cuffs,
the seams taking the long way
around.
Her hands gather into one another,
the fingers finding
more of each other
than the air can keep apart.
As though memory
had misplaced them,
the cheeks,
the sleeves,
the hands,
so generously certain
of their own space.
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.