Marmalade Lit
alternate names for korean-american daughters
Eleisen Suh — Seoul, South Korea
After Danez Smith
1.) children of the eastern sea souring the atlantic
2.) shadows cast by twinned suns
3.) off-brand shoes treading hyphens
4.) mouths soaped by mothers
5.) tongues lost to the west, fishy pancakes untasted
6.) phrases slivered, gone metallic in the gums
7.) rivers of unkempt ink, notebooks bound taut
8.) 교포 (gyopo¹) circuiting the motherland
9.) old country silt blooming white-washed husks
10.) starched bows, folded perfectly
11.) han²-heavy chests under american cotton
12.) piety of filial resentment
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¹ term denoting “ethnic Koreans living outside of the Korean peninsula”
² a Korean term for deep-seated, collective sorrow and unexpressed injustice
About
Eleisen Suh is a Korean American poet and high school junior. She is the editor-in-chief of her school's literary magazine, president and founder of the literacy initiative The Leaflit, and an editor for her school newspaper. Her work has been recognized by the John Locke Institute and is published or forthcoming in Polyphony Lit and The Magpie. Outside of writing and academics, Eleisen can be found playing sports and café hopping with friends.