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“Sad Patriarch” by Hwang In-Sook
Thumb, index finger, middle finger.As you stare at your three outstretched fingers,I tell you that you’re making the face of someone about to cry.Your chest is torn in sadness,and because of the brain cancer,you, my older sister’s husband, can no longer cry.Until now, on three fingers you’ve countedyour worries: a wife and two sons.You envy…
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“If That Too is Love” by Park Ra-Yeon
Even though they call softly,soon in every moonlit alley I hangmy everythingon flowersrecognizing someone like witnessesand blooming radiantly Because my entire body is a pupil Because flowersare the best calendarfor recognizing people Each year it’s as ifeverything life gives meis for something else it earnestlywishes it could say 나지막하게 불러도금방 뒤돌아보는 달의 골목마다 꽃들이사람을 알아본다는…
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“Only Just a Little Strange” by Kang Seong-Eun
Still lost in some thought,nameless and without symptoms, I stop.And coming back to my senses, see a world in motion. Like a disease that is only just a little strange.Like a sleep that is only just a little strange. Like a season growing in my mindthen fading without sadness. The time for reading from top…
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“Love’s Wasteland” by Hwang In-Sook
In the morning paper,a facehappened upon suddenly. After seeing it,tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak, tak,my heart’s stings as if cut with a knife. The moment I saw a friend long deadmy strengthwas lost, I’ve lost, lost, the thought camelike lightning. Time that wasn’t given to my friend but mewas lost. That’s how selfish I’ve become.…
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“Dry Fish” by Na Hee-Deok
Let’s linger in the darkness a while longer, you said. We don’t know if this is love, you thought. But the moment your body reached my hand, I knew you spoke from fear…
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“House of Memory” by Kim Myeong-Ri
The sound of falling rain grows outside the door.There’s no reason for anyone to visit a house perched on a mountainsidethis late at night—a well-timed downpour between two mountains—and stillas the light for the sensor at the door flashes,it seems that someone’s come from far off.The thin autumn trees are at a loss for deeper…
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“Lost Gift” by Shim Bo-Seon
Separation is a message from another planetabout us who die every day and dailybut can’t accept itbecause a death we can believe in is always the last to arrive.This odd gift of yoursmight have been endearing on another planet.On this one, it was frightening.On this one, I had no name for it,and so I lost…
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“Fading Flesh” by Kim So-Yeon
Monday,you left to go shopping.You bought thinly sliced jellyfish, then washed it.On the veranda, the green onions have bloomedand round snails rest on their blossoms. Tuesday,no matter how hard you tried,you couldn’t wake mein mycircle silhouette,so approaching quietly,you come lie down again. Wednesday,you took the train,pressing your forehead lightly to the rattling windowto better see the…