Sailors watch willful waves crash over the
Starboard as a venerable concertina wails
Shamelessly against the charcoal bolt.
Sargas casts his naked brilliance o’er the
Surface of frightened alabaster faces while
Shaula slings celestial tears upon the somber
Schooner fore it slinks into its frigid grave.
Tag Archives: creative writing
Our Cross
Language is alive.
It carves delight upon our tongues.
It is rooted deep within us.
Do not suppress it.
Tall toothsome tomes dwell in cell bodies.
Open them!
Lift up the white sheet!
Raise your voice and shout,
I am !
I can !
I do !
Language is a phonic flame in our throats.
Don’t let them hurl water on you.
Words are your companions – precious protectors.
Choose them wisely.
Words are fire breathing dragons
that can slay your worst enemies.
Pick the right ones, and you leave
this life a free soul.
Speak!
Speak!
Speak!
마지막/last
마지막 춤
마지막 노래
마지막 포옹
마지막 웃음
마지막 사랑
나는 알았더라면 울었을 것이다
이제 난 울고 있다
last dance
last song
last hug
last laughter
last love
if I had known, I would have cried
I am crying now
—————————–
Today was my last class with my youngest group of students. I didn’t know it was the last class until after I came home from the lesson because the school didn’t tell me before class time.
I usually write Korean poems to solidify grammar or vocabulary which I am currently studying, however this simple poem came from the heart and came to me in Korean instead of in English.
However, this is the first time that I’ve used the “If I had/I would have” grammar point in my writing !
동면/Hibernation
부드럽고 새하얀 눈이 땅에 내리는 동안 사나운 호랑이는 잔다.
호랑이가 겨울잠에서 곧 깨어날 것이기 때문에 우리는 경계를 늦추지 않아야 한다.
만약 그렇지 않다면 ~ 작고 하찮은 들쥐처럼, 우리는 틀림없이 죽게 될 것이다.
시간은 우리에게 불리하다…..
A ferocious tiger sleeps as soft and pure white snow falls to the ground.
We must be vigilant for his winter sleep will soon come to an end.
If not ~ like small and insignificant field mice, we shall surely be killed.
Time is against us…..
—————————-
*Korean translation edited for clarity by Seok Jin Wook
Home
Crummy
Slummy
Gummy
Gummy
Scummy
We live in a crummy slummy town,
where water runs gummy scummy brown.
We live in a crummy slummy town,
where water runs gummy scummy brown.
When the Watch Stopped/10:16pm
I ache alone in this room,
reflecting on your flight.
Spring is now in blissful bloom;
flowers feast on lofty light.
Reflecting on your flight,
shadows pass o’er my face.
Flowers feast on lofty light;
I swear away prayers of grace.
Shadows pass o’er my face.
Wise eyes are wet with woe.
I swear away prayers of grace,
underneath a lamplight’s glow.
Wise eyes are wet with woe.
Spring is now in blissful bloom.
Underneath a lamplight’s glow,
I ache alone in this room.
—————————————————————————
This is the last in a series of three pantoums that were inspired by discarded watches which I found in my apartment’s communal glass recycling bin. I selected three from the bunch that I found to be visually interesting, and then wrote poems about what was occurring when each of the watches stopped running.
Cinquain/XXVI
this year
unwelcome waves
washed away darlings, dear;
yea – all shall become sleepy slaves
in graves
By Your Side
Published in picture format because I don’t know how to keep the formatting of the poem using wordpress’s text editor.
When the Watch Stopped/10:02am
On a mild morn in May
her fists festoon this action.
Since I cannot flee the fray,
courage seeks some traction.
Her fists festoon this action;
insults wound a thistle heart.
Courage seeks some traction,
for in a second, war shall start.
Insults wound a thistle heart;
fingers mingle in dank dirt,
for in a second war shall start;
soft soil now accosts my skirt.
Fingers mingle in dank dirt,
since I cannot flee the fray.
Soft soil now accosts my skirt
on a mild morn in May.
homegrown tomatoes
homegrown tomatoes
homegrown tomatoes
what would I do without homegrown tomatoes?
only two things that money can’t buy
true love
AND
homegrown tomatoes
sundry folly 