Guardians

RalphLeave a comment

In the early evening in New York City,

I walked into a tin can subway train

from Washington Heights station infested with mice,

pulled out my MacBook, and start typing away my research paper.

My concentration was broken only

when three convivial middle aged Black joggers entered the same car.

In between giggles of two women, the Black man said —

“Whew, did not know this neighborhood that safe!”

And each set in a respective seats that formed a triangle around me.

Proud, dignified, exhuming adrenergic from a recent run,

they laughed and chatted like a clear-day sunlight.

Among them in my feigned naïveté and gravitas, I basked in their magnificence.

As the train rumbled through into the Downtown New York,

People started coming in — armored in Patagonia vests, Theory coats, and On sneakers.

As the chirping of young, flush, White professionals, lauding their inebriated blindness grew louder

the three gradually became mum, withering into three tree branches.

Soon, the quietly exited the car.

I left the roaring subway car after a couple stops.

Their story had smeared on my heart

And I knew I would remember them for a long time,

keeping their secret to myself.

4.21.2026

바람

RalphLeave a comment 
오랜만에 언덕을 올라 갔을 때
바람이 불었다. 
익숙하면서도 새로운 바람이
내 손끝에서 팔과 어깨를 스쳐 갔을 때
수년 전의 사람이 떠올려졌다. 
놓을 저녁과 부드럽게 어울리던 그 미소가
서서히 내 가슴 속에 물들어 갈 때
차갑게 응어리진 무언가가 녹아들 때
고개들어 태양을 마주 보며 말하였다. 
고맙다고. 
지켜봐 달라고. 

4.18.2026

Remembering

RalphLeave a comment

When the sky was empty like the deep blue ocean,

I stopped and asked:

do you still remember the way you thought?

In the long, bright, and cold day sitting in a cafe

what you mumbled to yourself,

what you daydreamed into the thin air,

and what you have silently wished would happen,

did those come to you after all?

sliding through your fingers

like the silky sand of Saharan desert

maybe they’ve been filling your heart

with glimpses of smile, flashes of joy, and marks of stays.

3.30.2026

Ground

RalphLeave a comment

Do you know where you stand now?

Do you know what you really want?

Do you know what you believe in?

Let’s worry about the time later.

Let’s just live in the moment.

And each moment will build

as long as we accept and remember.

Yes, it may hurt. Yes, it may be confusing.

That’s why you need to study your memories

and make it your own

instead of letting it chase you down.

Right now,

Right here,

what are you?

3.29.2026

Shown

RalphLeave a comment

Upon encountering a sparkling light

I’ve come to face what had been hidden

under my blind spot.

A large black dog sat warily.

Unable to decide to bark or to wag its tail

it quietly sat there, staring with its dark eyes.

I sat down and stretch my hand to it.

One day, I hope to go on a walk to the park with it.

3.25.2026