by Wansoo Kim
Cry for North Korea
The waves of civilization
Flow so fast
That we can fly
To China or Russia
Within half-a-day,
.
But in North Korean land
That one blood flows.
What kind of river of grudge
Is so deep there
That even parents, brothers and sisters
Can’t cross it
For over sixty long years?
.
In the North,
People go over the Tumen River
Casting away even their lives
As they don’t fill their empty stomach,
But in the South,
People pour a bundle of money into drugstores or clinics
As they don’t lose the fat on their belly;
Is it Okay to do so
Among parents, brothers and sisters with one blood?
It is said that last summer,
Even houses to lay their body down became like the sea water
Owing to the indiscriminate bombing of the sky;
Where do they sleep
And can they eat even any porridge?
.
Cry, the fat Southern land.
Cry on your knees
Not making any excuses.
Don’t you hear the groan
Of your starved parents, brothers and sisters?
Cry for South Korea
North Korean land,
Those whom you trampled with military boots
Shedding cannonballs
With your blood of hatred
More than sixty years ago:
Who were they to you?
.
Those living in the South
Whom you want to burn
Through the fire sea
As your blood of anger hasn’t cooled
Although they send rice to you:
Who are they to you?
.
The bitter enemies
Whom you want to kill
With missiles and nuclear bombs
Gnashing your teeth:
What kind of mistake did they make?
.
Until when will your great leader be bragging
A strong and prosperous country,
And the Earthly paradise,
While the people are bawling out
Due to their starvation
As days go by?
.
Cry, the northern land.
Cry beating your heart,
Not making any excuses.
Be young children
And cry your eyes out
Looking at the blue sky.
.
Wansoo Kim has a Ph. D. in English Literature from the graduate school of Hanguk University of Foreign Studies. He was a lecturer at Hanguk University of Foreign Studies and an adjunct professor at Incheon Junior College for about 20 years. He has published 5 poetry books, one novel, and one book of essays. One poetry book, “Duel among a middle-aged fox, a wild dog and a deer” was a bestseller in 2012, one page from the book of Letters for Teenagers was put in textbooks of middle school (2011) and high school (2014) in South Korea, and four books (Easy-to-read English Bible stories, Old Testament(2017), New Testament(2018) and Teenagers, I Support your Dream”) were bestsellers. He was granted a Rookie award for poetry at the magazine of Monthly Literature Space in South Korea, and the World Peace Literature Prize for Poetry Research and Recitation, presented in New York City at the 5th World Congress of Poets(2004). He published poetry books, “Prescription of Civilization” and “Flowers of Thankfulness“ in America.(2019), received Geum-Chan Hwang Poetry Literature Prize in Korea(2019) and International Indian Award(literature) from WEWU(World English Writer’s Union)(2019).
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