River

River

 

A gigantic lake between one mountain and another is finally ending

Where a small river is starting.

When the river made by the glacier melted over the years is heading to the lowest place,

It meets another river and more, travelling together,

finally reaching the sea and the ocean over distance.

Then, the earth becomes one complete body.

Mountains

Mountains

Mountains close to my eyes are fading away for a while.

When I open my eyes,

The blue and white mountains come into my eyes.

At Lake Louise

At Lake Louise

I want to remain here

Like the clouds over the top of the mountain,

Like the glacier in the waist of the mountain,

Until my body changes to emerald color of the lake,

Until I breathe the last moment of my life

As a prayer holding two hands,

Kneeling down, toward the lake.

Prayer in the Summer Woods

 

Prayer in the Summer Woods

Let his green world be greener next year!
Let the sound of water and singing birds

Be harmonious in this forest next year, too!
Let the morning glory be glorious along the path
Among the wildflowers.
Let the morning dew on grass be more precious
Than pearls on this summer morning.
Let the rabbits and deer stop the walking
Of human intruders into their land.
Let the trout hide under rocks in the stream.
Bless us next year, too
As You have blessed us this year.
Let our children spend one summer in this forest
Next year.
When night falls,
Let us go to sleep peacefully
While enjoying the firebugs’ festival in the dark sky.
Let us dream about this beautiful world.
Let our children dream about this wonderful world!

Cheju Island

Cheju Island

By Yearn Hong Choi

It is far from the land,

So it is a lonely island.

But I like the island,

Because it is lonely, far away from the land.

The autumn next to the sea is always full of dancing reeds

With wind from the sea.

Exiled languages and words created by wind and reed

Are making poetry

Unique and spectacular

On the island.

Ara arariyo

Ara arariyo

Foreign sailors from wrecked ships are hiding in the reeds

And listened to the poetry.

Their main diet is fish, wind, loneliness, and poetry.

Depending on their loneliness,

They all watch the enormously big sun

Crossing and disappearing over the sea line.

So they all embrace each other with warm hearts.

They all settle down in the island,

Giving up their native land.

But I am dreaming of getting out of the island,

to set sail to another island

Tonight.

Mountains

When the mountain comes into my sight,

My hometown is coming into my sight.

When one mountain is receding into another,

I become a small child surrounded by mountains.

When I climb up my mountain peak, Kuksoobong,

My mother opens her arms to embrace me.

“Son, you have come a long way!”

I come home, Mother!”

Whenever I climb up my mountain,

My mother is always greeting me