Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi
WALKING TOGETHER
On the grass of a village park,
filled with the light of spring,
pigeons have gathered,
pecking at scattered food.
Three city pigeons
and two wild doves—
their feathers seem alike, yet different;
their bodies and expressions seem different,
yet somehow alike.
They do not keep their distance
or fly away wary with fear.
They mingle like old friends
from the same neighbourhood.
Recognising each other’s differences,
communicating without discrimination—
their quiet gathering
is like an open, spacious scroll painting
from the East.
City pigeons and wild doves—
what kind of relationship
might there be between them?
Are they neighbours,
like people who left their homeland
and met one another in a foreign land?
Or a multicultural family
out for a spring picnic,
taking a little time away
from the routines of life?
Could this be a scene of empathy,
where newcomers from the North
walk together with others?
Or a place of reconciliation,
where winners and losers,
after an election,
accept the result
and come together as one?
Each dressed
in its own distinctive plumage,
they mingle as though
speaking heart to heart—
a quiet scene of coexistence.
Whether they know or do not know
of the turmoil on the other side of the earth,
on this bright and gentle spring day
they simply walk together,
warmly, in the sunlight.
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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