Jean Kim is a psychiatrist and writer working in Washington, DC. She received her M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins, where she won an Outstanding Graduate Award in 2015. She has work published or forthcoming in The Rumpus, The Toast, Niche Literary Magazine, Little Patuxent Review, The Tishman Review, Storyscape Journal, Gargoyle, and more.
For September we bring you a lovely poem about the Korean abalone divers. The rich imagery of the sea juxtaposed against the current, more pop culture references makes for a surprising characterization that illustrates the strength and grace of these women.
--Karissa Chen, Fiction & Poetry Editor
Haenya (Abalone Huntress) Dancing
Mermaids in tire rubber
Rise from the murk-surf,
More like Rosie than Bo or Ursula—
Who knew deep sea dives,
Domain of sleek seals,
To be a rough profession—