In Olalla’s Grove
crimson cowards conceal themselves
under an ocean of apricot muslin.
Pruning knives have been honed.
Monthly Archives: October 2014
경계하는 딱따구리/Watchful Woodpecker
Some days I bring my camera on a hike and never take it out of my backpack. Today was not one of those days.
Over the Ridge
Silent night
Unholy night
Beneath the silver popping trees of yuletide, scarlet
spotted pearls lie shivering beside frost covered hazel eyes.
Twisted twin crescent moons grimace at scores of faceless
souls strewn upon fate’s sanguine stage before perishing
within the enslaving silk of the Great Spider Above.
What I tell you three times is true.
————————
*edited after initial posting
Flowers of a Moment: Poem 49
초등학교 유리창마다
석양이 빛나고 있다
그 유리창 하나하나가 실컷 신들이었다
-고은
the setting sun shines through
each elementary school window
every one of those windows was an illimitable god
-Ko Un
———————————-
This is poem 49 from Flowers of a Moment, which is a small volume of poetry by Korean author Ko Un that I am currently translating into English.
Cinquain/XXXVI
gleaming
sandals glide by
faint figures of scheming
mortals, fore flying to this shy
steel sky
———–
The subject of this cinquain is Talaria, the golden winged sandals which Hermes wore.
부산불꽃축제 2014/2014 Busan Fireworks Festival
Smoky Lullaby
When I can’t sleep, I sometimes sit and stare at the smoke coming up from the factories in our neighborhood. I find it very relaxing, similar to staring at a fish tank.
No One’s Child
When did I become no one’s child?
the route home should take 20 minutes; 50 have passed
behind me, school girls with rain soaked raven hair
chatter away about the day’s nothing somethings
heavy eyelids collapse
I’m not going home, am I?
Floating Foliage
Tokyo, Japan
(2012)
Cinquain/XXXIV
outside
this humble place
poor potato fields cried;
famine’s fatal fingers erase
my face
sundry folly 