Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi
Embraced in a friend’s arms,
a framed portrait enters the school gate.
Wearing glasses, dressed in a school uniform,
With a heavy backpack,
He walked sluggishly to school every day.
But today, it’s the last time, surrounded by friends.
The principal follows behind.
The homeroom teacher trails along, gloomy.
The old security guard stands in his booth,
watching the procession through the glass window.
A short while later, the procession leaves again.
Along the school fence, yellow
forsythias bloom like black mourning ribbons.
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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