Here, here, here is a piece that catches the reader in its chase, the syntax of phrases such as “fall trout thrum south,” thrumming nearly tangible in the sound. In Jacqueline He’s poem, “night/compels a narrative that lingers in the mouth like an aftertaste(,)” as does the fox spirit, He’s poem first questioning this spirit, then embracing it. Intertwining language and imagery, mythology and musicality, He transcends the page line after, and line upon, line. — Robby Auld
狐狸精 // fox spirit
after mary szybist
Jacqueline He is a high school junior from the Harker School in San Jose, California. She was recently named a 2017 YoungArts Finalist in Writing, a 2017 Virginia B. Ball Writing Contest Finalist, and a 2016-2017 American High School Poets Just Poetry !!! National Winner. Her poetry was recognized by Princeton University and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and was featured in Teen Ink (Editor’s Choice Award), the Eunoia Review, Brouhaha Magazine, Effervescent Magazine, and Moledro Magazine.
Honorable mentions: Hadassah Amani (Miami Arts Charter, Miami, FL); Sarah B (Marlboro High School, Marlboro, NJ); Jake Bracha (Miami Arts Charter, Miami, FL); Anna Butcher (Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL); Madi Carr (Westfield High School, Westfield, IN); Haemaru Chung (Trinity School, New York, NY); MarQuel Horton (Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, New Haven, CT); Olivia Hu (Port Moody Secondary School, Port Moody, BC); Nadia Jo (Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA); Madina Malahayati (Global Jaya School, Bintaro); Roman Maksimov (Woodburn Arts and Communications Academy, Woodburn, OR); Mercy Moncada (Cristo Rey Boston High School, Dorchester, MA); Nyaila Newbold (Miami Arts Charter, Miami, FL); Gabriella Quintero (Miami Arts Charter, Miami, FL); Tarik Shwaish (The Gifted School of Basra, Iraq); Cindy Song (Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, MD); Kevin Song (Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn, NY); Katherine Soupiset (Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio, TX); Abby Tow (Keller High School, Keller, TX); Mia Valenzuela (Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana, CA); Tyler James Vivas (Miami Arts Charter, Miami, FL); Lisa Yuen (Westerly High School, Westerly, RI)
Gigantic Sequins 