Tag: South Korean

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Poetry

Loneliness

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

Pond near Springfield by Oscar Grosch (1863–1928). From Public Domain.
Like a breeze, I walk lightly.
Sitting in the spring sun,
Gazing at the green valley,
Life is truly a lonely thing.

Even with yesterday's memories and tomorrow's hopes,
Even with friends coming and going and daily business,
Living is truly a lonely thing.

All day today, I've been thinking of you.
Is my life lonely because I miss you?
Is this spring day lonely because you're there?

Like a breeze, I walk aimlessly.
Sitting on the grassy field, gazing at the waves in the lake,
Even this blossoming season feels lonely

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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PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

The Long Journey

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

Poppy Field (Monet interpretation) by Kateryna Sabudska (Ukraine), Saatchi Art. FRom Public Domain 
THE LONG JOURNEY 

A journey no one else can join
A long journey my mother has taken alone

In this place where I lived with my mother
Standing alone in the wind-blown world
I look at the long, distant path
Where my mother has gone

Even if the angels in heaven
Wipe away my mother's tears
And offer her a bouquet of flowers

Without her son, her daughter-in-law
Without her granddaughters,
How lonely must my mother be!

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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PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

At the Tip of a Thistle Tree …

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

NOW, WHAT I CAN DO...
 
Presenting a poem as a member of a poets' group,
Climbing the mountain hoping not to disturb the peace of birds and trees, I can look around,
Feeling relieved that quitting smoking was a good decision.
I think it's time to quit drinking after reflecting on over-drinking the other day,
Think it's better to eat lesser for health.
I sit on a sesame field or at the tip of a thistle tree like a red dragonfly.
Yielding the television to the family,
I return to my room and browse over poetry I used to enjoy.
Finally, I look back on not being a good father figure,
Finding excuses though to say that isn't it in my heart.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

The Tobacco Lover 

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

A gentleman in a suit descends in the elevator from the eighth floor
and walks to the base of a maple tree, lighting a cigarette.
From the twelfth floor, another gentleman in a suit walks down the corridor,
takes the elevator down the stairs, and heads to the shade of the maple tree,
lighting another cigarette.
 
Several people gather, lighting their cigarettes,
but no words are exchanged among them.
Conversations reside within the smoke of their cigarettes.
 
It's been seventeen years since
a comedian did a no-smoking public service announcement and left.
 
Through the respiratory track and lung rotations,
the smoke, exhaled from mouths and nostrils, disperse,
but the scent clings to the tongue, gums, and roof of the mouth.
 
Carcinogens are sprayed into blood vessels, brain cells, and nerve cells,
and the smell permeates ties, fingers, and hair.
The carcinogens refill the elevator and ascend
from the first floor to the second, then to the twelfth.
 
Ignoring the sensitive noses of customers has become a habit.
I believe in the saying, "You grow to love what you know."

How can one understand the heart of someone who doesn't know the taste of tobacco,
as they leave the office, ride the elevator, and head to the shade of the maple tree to light up a cigarette?
The relationship between tobacco, its lovers, and the maple tree is expected to continue for a while longer.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

Rough Stone

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

Sparrows

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

The sparrow I saw under the roof of a border checkpoint

crossing from the USA to Canada,

heading to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi, 

coming out with a bottle of drink from an alleyway

encountered a sparrow in front of a small shop.



Both the sparrows – the one seen at the border checkpoint

and the other in front of the small shop,

belong to the same species as those

that live under the eaves of my hometown houses.

Next to the KBS* New York correspondent’s mike,

the sparrow hopping on the street, nibbling on crumbs,

and the sparrow living in a salt warehouse in Sorae*, Incheon,

are both sparrows from the same species.



Like a quiet Korean restaurant sign by the road on the way to Las Vegas,

or like the little six-year-old Korean-American kid I met

at a small snack bar in an LA alleyway,

lonely yet welcoming fellow countrymen sparrows from afar.



*KBS: Korea Broadcasting System

*Sorae: small creek in Incheon City, Korea

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

Disaster Alert

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi


A cat traffic accident occurred at the intersection.

With a pair of tongs, I managed to pick up the flattened head and body.

Collecting the entrails stuck to the hot asphalt, 

I climbed up to a nearby forest while picking up the shattered skull.

I wanted to pray for the cat.

Should I wish for a heavenly rebirth, 

or should I wish to be born as a beloved pet in the next life?

I couldn't think of a proper prayer.

Created by the Creator, a stray cat that has never harmed humans 

while living in an apartment complex.

Wandering between apartment gardens and walls, roaming between wheels,

I wondered why it met its end, flattened on the hot asphalt in broad daylight.

Until I dug the ground and created a burial mound,

I couldn't come up with a prayer for the cat.

Unable to pray, I silently told it to go to a better place in my heart

as I descended the forest path, and at that moment a disaster alert came in.

It felt like a condolence message mourning the cat's death.

11:00 AM - Heatwave Warning Issued

Citizens, please refrain from outdoor activities during the day.

Drink water frequently and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

Indecisiveness

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

When you encounter something beautiful,

Even if you are not familiar with beauty,

Be willing to approach it,

Rather than hesitating and distancing yourself.



When something good is in front of you,

Even if it feels unfamiliar,

Show an interest,

Instead of being overly critical and parting ways.



When you encounter something true,

Even if you usually don't care much about it,

In the realm of human existence, truth is necessary.

Knowing that truth ultimately stays with us,

Accept it, instead of discarding it like an old rag.



Unacceptance, leads to inevitable collisions,

And regrets -- both big and small.

You end up being tossed around and remain indecisive at every turn.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

The Window and the Flower Vase

Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

In front of the window, there's a flower vase,

Bright and colourful with various blooms.

As I remove the vase,

The colours and scents leave in droves.


The space in front of the window is now open wide,

Without any colour or fragrance.


The window, all alone in its place,

Finally becomes a true window.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International

Categories
Poetry

The Time for the Janitor to Pass By



Poetry and translation from Korean by Ihlwha Choi

THE TIME FOR THE JANITOR TO PASS BY 

Birds colliding with the glass window and falling,
The janitor sweeps them away with familiarity.
Birds that once lived in the square of the sky,
On Ukraine's transparent glass window,
On Myanmar's ruthless glass window, they plummet.

The time for the janitor to pass by again.

Flowers we see are like a fleeting paradise,
The way we viewed America once.
Glass windows erected over America, horrible barriers.
The time for the janitor to pass by again.
The mother bird becomes a glass wall of death,
Time and time again, a baby bird falls beneath the glass wall.
From the glass window of the sea,
To the soundproof walls of the land, colliding silver wings,
Many things plummet daily onto the blue star.

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.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International