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“Microwave Rice” by Lee Byeong-Ryul
There was a time when I used to buy microwave rice.A time when there was no nowhere to put it.I placed it in pockets, bags,and hugged it to my chest.But it always grew cold. Eating it in secret, it became too loose.But when it made splendid clumps, what I ate became my strength.There is something…
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“It’s OK, I’m a Pig” by Kim Hye-Soon
Nailing the pig to the cross was so natural it was meaningless. In the meditation room, I glare at the wall while deciding to meditate and sit in the Lotus Position…
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“Lunar Eclipse” by Wi Seon-Hwan
Extending a finger, my uncle raises it to one eye. Squeezing both eyes as he headed to the reservoir, he held a drenched full moon in his water-filled stomach…
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“Cuckoo” by Seo Jeong-Ju
Dappled with tears was the path my love tread. 30,000 ri to the lands west of China, he played his flute as he left for where azalea rains fall. Ga Op-Shin, adjusting and readjusting…
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“At Dawn When Your Eyes Awake” by Shin Dal-Ja
At dawn when your eyes awake,birds that hugged the forest through the night take flightand place light against my forehead.The wind and trees which watched over our dreamingwhisper—in my ears a clear bell.I know the hour your eyes awake.Dawn is coming for me,so hurry, and even if we fall asleephasten to the center of my…
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“Bird” by Shin Dal-Ja
For you, I was a bird. Unable to speak, only cry. A pitiful bird with no one to understand me. And each day, to make my wings ache I flew to all the places you traveled…
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“Deep in the Night” by Shin Dal-Ja
When I cry, why aren’t you there?Swallowing my tearsthis hungry night,I sought you.But you had disappearedfrom my darkened face. Loving you was notto have someone to cry together with, but…dousing the flameyour laugh calls out to my heart.The path is lit,but you are too far off. Loving you was notto have someone to cry together…
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“Cow” by Kim Ki-Taek
The cow’s large eyes look as if there’s something she longs to say,but I don’t have the ears to understand.All her words are in her eyes. Words which could tumble as tears from eyes all but filled,but there is no path out of the body.The heart tries to coax out a few, handful by handful,but…