Hickory Creek student wins second place in national poetry contest

A touch of Korean culture and poetry right here in Frankfort earned Hickory Creek Middle School seventh grader Emma Kein a national second place award. She won for her sijo poem in the National Sejong tenth annual writing competition and was also the youngest poet who placed in the contest.

Under the direction of Everest gifted program teacher Rebecca Trsar, students learned about Korean culture and the sijo poem, an ancient form of Korean poetry. Mrs. Trsar asked students to submit one sijo to the writing contest. Selected from more than 1,400 entries received this year, nine sijo contestants and sixteen essay contestants in three different age groups will earn awards.

Emma personally thanked her teacher, Mrs. Trsar, for encouraging her to enter the sijo poetry contest. She stated, “When she told me that I got second place, I was so shocked. I never expected to do this well when I entered my poem. The Sejong Cultural Society contest has helped me grow as a writer and a poet.” Emma also thanked her friends and family for everything they do. She continued, “Whether it is driving me to my activities or encouraging me to do my best, they are always there for me.” Emma enjoys playing the cello, club volleyball and travel basketball. In her free time, she also enjoys hanging out with friends.

The Sejong Cultural Society is a Chicago-based non-profit organization created to introduce Korean culture to young people in the United States and Canada through contemporary and traditional fine arts. Its main programs include a writing competition for age 25 and younger, a music competition for pre-college age and a music composition competition for all ages. More information is at www.sejongculturalsociety.org.

On behalf of the Sejong Cultural Society, Dr. C. Lucy Park wrote, “We would like to thank all writers who participated in this year’s competition and hope for the writers’ continued interest in Korean literature and culture.”

Emma’s poem is shown below. These poems must follow a certain formula in structure and rhythm, and lines 2, 4 and 6 should be indented.

The walls are caving in,

I don’t know how much longer I can survive.

Is anyone coming for me?

Does anyone realize that I’m missing?

The door creaks open. “Found ya!”

my sister says with a smile. “You’re it!”