Navy sailors in black uniforms,
heavy rifle slung against their shoulders probe
the Ulleungdo Village.
Rose of sharon looms along the paths
as families walk on the sidewalks.
The peak of the Ulleung mountain blooms
through the gaps between the gawa houses.
By the sea, Haenyeos with thick bathing suits
pick up abalone and seaweed.
They sit at the shore deck and lay out the tangled nets
where few abalones dangle.
Young men a few meters behind the boats
untie the knots and pull the fish scales
while the rest of them squat down and
sort the fish in colorful containers.
Stratus clouds blur the sunlight
and the lighthouse in the middle of the seaport
starts to guide the lined ships.
Little roly polies crawl back to the small holes
in the gabbro rocks fixed in the shore.
Across the waters, a tall glass building bloats
the reflection of the lights from the lighthouse.
Children on the deck with a soccer ball
wait for their fathers to come home.
Haewon Yun is a sophomore student who goes to an international school in Manila, Philippines. She spends most of her time playing cello and golf with her family. Her publications include Stepping Stones Magazine.