Hovig Manoyan: Sickly

Green Buddha on a fruit stand

with mangos, strawberries, bananas,

blueberries, apricots, lemons, and oranges.

On good days, the Buddha serves you politely,

hands you a pear. It's like farmer's market

with free coconut and pineapple drinks.

Today, Buddha prays to Brahmin

to take greenness away. He barfs

hairballs on your horrible, horrible fruit bowl.

Hovig Manoyan has received honorable mention in this year's poetry competition, in the student category. He is 11 years old and in 6th grade at St. Gregory Hovsepian School, Pasadena, CA