Tamkang students took first place, second place, and won an “Exemplary Poem Award” at a recent Flora Expo Poetry Contest held by the Taiwanese government. First prize went to TKU Chinese Literature PhD candidate, Zhang Shao-qi, who received NT $40,000 for his four-poem piece entitled “At the Fair”. The second-place prize of NT $30,000 was claimed by TKU Chinese Literature PhD candidate Zhang Fu-jun, for his five poem series entitled “Grassy Mountain Rhododendron”. In addition, TKU graduate student Lan Min-shi received a cash prize of NT $5,000 for taking out the Exemplary Poem Award.

After visiting the Flora Exposition, Fu-jun said “They change the displays from time to time. So I’d like to come back for another visit”. As for his second-placing, he mused: “For me, the competition was a chance to practice my skills. Coming 2nd was just a nice bonus, an acknowledgement of my ability”.