by Leo Chang

In the wake of dawn
thousands of flakes fall with grace
the world is silent


Ice crystals like gems 
sparkling on houses’ eaves
winter jewelry


A quiet landscape
voices lost in the cold air
silent winter song


Frozen rivers sleep
skates glide and scrape skillfully
dance of the season


The laughter of children
snowballs fly as snowmen watch
winter revelry


​Beneath the moonlight
shadows blanket melting snow
goodbye sweet winter

​Fifteen-year-old Leo Chang is a ninth grader at Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ. Writing has always been something he has loved, and he started submitting poems for writing contests a few years ago. He was honored to receive first place for his poem, A Streak of Light in a Dark
Sky, after listening to over four hours of testimony from Holocaust survivor Rudy Herz to whom he dedicated the poem. This competition was sponsored by the Chapman University’s Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Other honors include a Silver Key from Scholastic Art &
Writing Awards for his poem, My Grandfather’s Voice.