Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi
You've lived your life not knowing
That you carry an unpolished gem within.
Only after you're gone do we realise
That your façade was indeed of a rough stone,
Leaving behind the task of gouging the gem.
You departed this world as a single, rough stone,
Departing to the afterlife, leaving behind rough stones.
The world is filled with them.
Some are polished to shine bright,
Only to become rough stones again.
Now is the time to polish that stone,
To shape it with hammer and chisel,
And seat you in your rightful place.
You must quickly extract the gem within
For only then will this rough stone
Transform into a vibrant spirit in life.
How many sleepless nights must be endured,
How many days of hardship overcome,
To polish the stone you left behind,
To complete the unfinished You.
Extracting the shining gem within that stone
Is the resurrection of Yourself.
Ihlwha Choi is a South Korean poet. He has published multiple poetry collections, such as Until the Time When Our Love will Flourish, The Color of Time, His Song and The Last Rehearsal.
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