This Sense of Unbelonging: My Teacher Once Told Me - By Hae Soo Kim

Written By: Hae Soo Kim

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Hae Soo Kim contributes a thought-provoking piece titled "This Sense of Unbelonging: My Teacher Once Told Me" to the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This work delves deeply into themes of identity and the quest for belonging, capturing the essence of personal introspection and emotional resilience. Kim's work is a genuine reflection of the complexities surrounding the universal human experience of searching for one's place in the world.

About the Work

Kim's poem evokes a somber yet hopeful narrative, exploring the persistent struggle with feelings of exclusion and the search for acceptance. Through vivid imagery and a poignant style, the poem addresses the emotional scars of past judgments, while ultimately embracing the strength found in personal connections and inner resolve. The work resonates with its readers through its honest portrayal of emotional vulnerability and empowerment.

This Sense of Unbelonging: My Teacher Once Told Me

Original Submission by Hae Soo Kim

Hae Soo Kim

This Sense of Unbelonging: My Teacher Once Told Me

All these years

I have been searching

For an answer:

(Why don’t I belong?)

The answer is lost

Erased from my memories

But my body holds the hurt, unable to let go:

(There are people who made me think that.)

The faces are blank

But I remember the eyes

Ignoring, intruding, mocking:

“She doesn’t belong.”

And the mouths stretched into strange smiles

Foreign tongues marking me red

Blabbering, snickering, laughing:

“She is no one.”

I have this sense of unbelonging

That never seems to go away

A feeling of hopeless detachment:

(I fall,

I fall,

I fall,)

Only to rise above once more:

I can be rooted and moving

My loved ones are my homes

In my own home?)

That I am no one,

(How dare you tell me I don’t belong,

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is an esteemed platform for writers and poets to showcase their literary talents. Celebrating diverse voices and unique storytelling, the competition provides a global stage for participants to share their creative expressions and connect with an international audience.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Hae Soo Kim for her contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 with her poem, "This Sense of Unbelonging: My Teacher Once Told Me." Her evocative exploration of identity and belonging adds a rich layer to the tapestry of voices featured in this year's competition. Thank you, Hae Soo, for sharing your powerful narrative with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.