Originally posted on Poethead by Chris Murray:
Pomegranate In autumn, even a tree sheds jewels on the street. A deeply buried heart may be fetching like this. Around this time, A bird shall pilot the life of a fragrant tree, Crossing the river with a seed in its beak, Passing the field of silvergrass on…
Like a Period that Resembles a Flower Seed Claudia Lee Hae-in (1945-present) With a fine throbbing Of the day the seed I planted Blossomed for the first time With dazzling, touching feeling Of the time I open the window After days of illness And look at the sky With the pure voice Trees speak with … Continue reading
Freedom Kim Nam-ju (1946-1994) When I struggle for the people, I am free. When I don’t sweat and work with all my effort, How can I say I am free? When I fight for the people, I am free. When I don’t bleed and fight together, How can I say I am free? When I … Continue reading
The Dessin Kim Gwang-gyoon (1914-1993) 1 Telephone poles slant one by one In the sunset beautiful as though spice is sprinkled. Far away— Night illuminates over the powerlines. 2 Clouds Are a bouquet of roses Recklessly painted on a violet paper. The path across the field is desolate Like the flag in the ranch and … Continue reading
Falling Blossoms Lee Hyeonggi (1933-2005) How beautiful is the back of a departing person who knows when to depart? My love that has endured the passion over the spring is now falling. Falling blossoms scatter… Now is the time to depart, surrounded by the blessing the departure has achieved. Toward the greenery and the autumn … Continue reading
The Love Song of a Dandelion Claudia Lee Hae-in (1945-) Every day, a dandelion writes a poem in the spring sky, For it feels empty to untangle the long string of thoughts That has been twined in secret. When it lets down its white hair and spreads the thin seeds into the air For there … Continue reading
Awareness: the Visage of Happiness Kim Hyunseung (1913-1975) If happiness comes to me, I thank it; Even if misfortune comes to me, I thank it. Happiness comes once from outside, Once from inside. Our door to happiness Opens from outside But also from inside. When I’m happy, I warmly cherish the sunlight of today; When … Continue reading
At Sapyeong Station Kwak Jae-gu (1954 – ) The last train hadn’t come for a while. All night, outside the waiting room, snowflakes were piling. By every window, where a white gust of lilac was dazzling, a sawdust stove was burning red. Some were dozing like the last day of a month, some were coughing … Continue reading
The Farmer and The Poet Kim Yong Taik (1948-) My father Built a house With grass, tree, soil, wind, water, and sunshine And lived in the house As he tended the crops. And I, With what do I write a poem? I, like my father, Want to write a poem With grass, tree, soil, wind, … Continue reading
Chilseok Kwak Jae-gu (1954 – ) While picking the flower seeds by her worn palm, in the field of moss roses, my grandma left to the heaven, befriending the day moon that came to this world on an outing. An elegant, blue ramie jacket in the cedar chest followed my grandma to the heaven, … Continue reading
Ahn Translation 