Jin A Hong, South Korea's National Honour
October 2026
Moist Mountain Man
Moist Mountain Man
His Nose
Lonelier than twin rocks beneath a waterfall,
A ridge of flysch,
Embraceable by my dipped palm.
His Eyelashes
Darker than my own dreams,
A crescent moon,
Diagonally tugging at my little finger.
His Philtrum
A mere petal’s worth of a brush,
A drinking gourd,
Drawing me in, holding my middle finger.
My Forefinger
Resembling the waves of his hair,
Rests on the left corner of his lips,
Wandering around the inner bulb of his crimson mouth.
He Opens His Eyes
Only now, letting them guide my gaze to the spring of his breath;
Aspiration—
I breathe it deep into this very youth.
His Forehead, Shoulders, Fingertips,
Heart, and toes—
I kiss them all,
Tracing the perfect blend of sweetness.
He
Yesterday, drew me vertically and himself horizontally,
Like a singular, fleeting convergence.
You
Today, twisting your body to hold me tight,
As if achieving a complete, indivisible unity.
Score: 73.17 out of 100.
Read the October 2026 National Honours