Road

Yesterday again
at an inn
I spent a sleepless night with the cawing crows.

Today
how many more ri
on my journey I don't know whither?

Shall I climb the hill
or walk on the field?
Wanted nowhere, I cannot go any farther.

Don't mention my home
at Kwaksan, Chongju,
where trains go and boats,too

Look at the geese
in mid air.
Are they flying so well because there's a path?

Look at the geese
in mid air.
I'm standing right at a crossroads.

Of all the roads branching
to all directions,
There's none for me to take readily
One who came
as i became older
the one who kept out of sight,
the one who hid in dreams—
she came again.

her face was flush, as before.
her fingers were long and thin,
and she lay in my arms as always—
calm and unmoving.

between us there is only silence.

suddenly she rises
like the sound of birds’ wings fluttering,
and a tousled awareness of myself
takes her place.

in the brightness of day
i am left with my mistakes.
anyone on the roadside—even you—
might be her.
Spring rain
Petals fall
and the flowers they leave—expressionless,
this is how the spring passes.

rain falls
and the sky that remains—also expressionless,
and nothing in my heart.

branches grow green,
i know this is true—and clouds,
they pass over a day gone by.

dusk and sweet rain,
they both come to a stop—and my heart,
its tasks begin only after.
Azaleas
When you feel disgusted looking at me
And if you feel like leaving me
I will let you go without whining a word
I will go to Yongbyon’s Yaksan (Mountain)
I will bring an armful of azaleas
I will lay the azalea flowers on the path you’d take
Softly, lightly,
take one step after another on the fresh flowers
as you’re going away
You may go away if you feel disgusted looking at me
I will not let a single tear drop fall
I’d rather die if you leave me, though
The sea
where are the waters
whose waves pulse, rise, fall, swell—
as the seaweed grows red?

where are the waters
whose fishermen lie in their boats—
singing songs of love and chance?

where are the waters
whose skies die gently at twilight—
cobalt from grey from cool black?

where are the waters
whose wandering birds build flocks—
more massive as they recede into distances?

where are the waters
i would cross over, without a thought—
the last sea without land on the other side?