Girls of the Fall Yang Jungja (1944 – present) In dreary November in the empty schoolyard where students and teachers are gone and blossoms and leaves are fallen seventh-grade girls who are yet to start puberty play jumpsies in the corner till late. “A toy train leaves as it chugs choo choo carrying cookies and … Continue reading
A Half Shattered Briquette Ahn Do-hyun (1961-present) Someday, I too want to flare up, I too want to push myself to the limit. When I return in the truck I arrived in, “a briquette”—the first name I was given— will be shattered like my existence. So I want to reach my limit here, gloriously, even if … Continue reading
East Sea—At Hupo Port Shin Kyung-nim (1936-) Many days, I despise my friends more than my enemies. Many times, a fault as tiny as dust Looks huge like a straw mat, like a hill. This may be why when the world is in confusion, I become harsh on others and lenient on myself; I become … Continue reading
A Joyful Letter Hwang Tong-gyu (1938-) 1 For me to think of you must be a trivial thing like the setting sun and blowing wind at where you sit, but I shall call you with the long-lasting trivialness when you are lost in the endless agony. 2 The truest, truest reason for my love of … Continue reading
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
A Piece of Briquette Ahn Do-hyun (1961-present) Though people say many different things, Life is To become a briquette, gladly For somebody else. From the day the floor chills to the day spring comes, The most beautiful thing in the streets of Korea Is a truck that fervidly climbs up the hill with briquettes. As if … Continue reading
A Person I Love Jeong Ho-seung (1950-present) I don’t love a person who doesn’t have a shade. I don’t love a person who doesn’t love a shade. Sunlight is dazzling only when there’s a shade. When I sit in the shade under a tree And look at the sunlight tinkling among the leaves, How beautiful … Continue reading
I Ask You Ahn Do-hyun (1961-present) Don’t kick ashes from briquettes. Have you Ever been fiery for somebody else Once in your life? 1994 (Translated by Jido Ahn. September 2016) Learn more about the poet: Ahn Do-hyeon (1961-) 너에게 묻는다 안도현 (1961-) 연탄재 함부로 발로 차지 마라 너는 누구에게 한번이라도 뜨거운 사람이었느냐 photo source: Woman … 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
Cricket Hwang Tong-gyu (1938-) A cricket that was chirping around a benjamin vase on the balcony for several evenings chirped in the utility room in the back yesterday. A bit sluggishly. What had made it move there, while, by and by, autumn is deepening lonesomely? Would it have crawled across the living room or flown? … Continue reading
Ahn Translation 