The East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University, with support from the Korea Foundation, presents the winners of the 2022 Midwest Sijo Student Competition for K-12 students to honor the traditional Korean form of poetry. Please note that the Grand Prize Winners will be announced shortly. Entries from Kentucky and Ohio were received from February - May 1, 2022. More information is available at http://easc.osu.edu/sijo. Winners listed below. List of 2022 Midwest Sijo Winners (pdf). List of 2021 Sijo Winners (website).
Grand Prize:
Celia Rademan, Pittsville Elementary School
The pale moonlight reflects on the white snow, casting shadows.
The tree branches hitting each other in an endless fight
finally, peace for the rest of the night. I sleep until morning.
Grand Prize- Honorable Mention:
Mia Moore, Olentangy Liberty Middle School
Galloping through unending fields, dreaming that I will never leave your side.
Listen to the steady beat, feeling jovial, tranquil, free.
My tears flow like rivers; you left breaking my heart. I miss you, friend.
First Place:
Mia Moore (7th Grade) Olentangy Liberty Middle School
Galloping through unending fields, dreaming that I will never leave your side.
Listen to the steady beat, feeling jovial, tranquil, free.
My tears flow like rivers; you left breaking my heart. I miss you, friend.
Second Place (tied, listed alphabetically):
Jacob Linley, 7th Grade, Olentangy Liberty Middle School
Gliding on the glistening water flowing swiftly behind
Swerving side to side, fluently drifting closer,
The tube is close to its demise, as the wave hits and it flips
Cole Taylor, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
The icy coldness surrounding me, making me shiver,
The emptiness filling up with icy water and warm tears,
In the warm eyes of the red sun beating down at my golden back.
Alaina Wilds, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
What a colorful, beautiful bush. It is filled with flowers.
Big ones, small ones, blue ones, red ones, yellow ones. How beautiful.
In a flash, the bush moves. Many butterflies fly away.
Honorable Mention (tied, listed alphabetically):
Ace Collins, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
Today I have a test, and I think it will be easy.
I go in to the test confident. I think I will do well.
When I get the test, I'm happy, but then I realize I failed.
Mason Davidson, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
Space, it is so far away; nowhere near here, but pleasant it is,
So dark, so quiet. Peacefully, I sit watching the stars.
Abruptly, all the stars vanish in the morning sun.
Simone Lewis, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
The subtle beak peeks, flowing through a reef’s pretentiousness;
Coming from the dark, impressive depths, and the need to surface;
Skilled adaptation in between the blues and greens of the sea.
Madillyn Newman, 8th Grade, Ironton Middle School
Soldiers fight for our freedoms. They’re our heroes, risking it all:
Their whole lives are put on the line for all of us “good” people.
How do we “good” people repay them? By letting them be homeless.
Ella Spires, 8th Grade, Olentangy Liberty Middle School
Birds chirping, sun is shining. Windows open, to summer breeze.
Kids splashing, Flip-Flops clacking. Coats of sunscreen, as the sun shines.
How can you enjoy all of this, if its cold in Ohio?
Grand Prize:
Ella Forsterling, Arrowhead Union High School
clouds stand still, they look painted
on the canvas of the blue sky.
soft grass tickles my arms and legs.
birds chirp loud. not loud enough,
to drown out the screams and yelling
of my parents inside the house
Grand Prize - Honorable Mention:
Raelyn Schweinsberg, Wayne Trace High School
An unadorned vase that holds life’s worries like precious flowers
A variety of things in our world are intricate
Petals fall as pressure rises; our delicate world’s footing cracks
First Place:
Raelyn Schweinsberg, 10th Grade, Wayne Trace High School
An unadorned vase that holds life’s worries like precious flowers
A variety of things in our world are intricate
Petals fall as pressure rises; our delicate world’s footing cracks
Honorable Mention (tied, listed alphabetically):
Mckenzie Qurshi, 12th Grade, Millersport Jr/Sr High School
Long early morning runs, along a glistening lake.
this healthy lifestyle; anti-aging, beauty enhancing
My sweat drips freely; I stink of fear, I'm being chased.
Ava Stoller, 9th Grade, Wayne Trace High School
I had an assignment to do
Making a bowl and tray from clay
Glazing the pieces with pink and blue
Into the kiln, they go
My tray came out lopsided
And my bowl has disappeared
Coordinated by the East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University. Sponsors: Korea Foundation and a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant to the East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University.