I Was Enchanted to Meet You by Karen Lee (South Korea)

​When she sings it was enchanting
To meet you staring into the audience,
With a blank gaze that masks all that
She feels, I remember the 11 year old
Inside of me, listening to her sing as I 
Absentmindedly looked out of 
the splotchy bus window on my way home,

Not in a sparkly dress that elegantly lined my
Figure; nor with perfect blonde curls or 
Crimson red lips; but feeling the pain,
The love, and the confidence in her words.
She walks down, emerging through the smoke
Between the white, crystal-fallen trees,
Whispering that this night is sparkling, 
This night is flawless, making me forget
About the fight with my mom, the 
Pressure of achievement, the shattering pain 
Of losing a loved one, and making me leave behind
The imperfectness of my life
And truly stand there, 
Enchanted.





Karen Lee is a student at Chadwick International in Seoul, South Korea, who has an unquenchable passion for both writing and drawing. In preparation for her future academic endeavors, she is diligently compiling her writing portfolio and has recently received an acceptance to Iowa Young Writer's Studio, a distinguished program that identifies and nurtures emerging writing talent.