Dear younger self

it is alright. it is alright.
it is okay to let those tears fall.
it is okay to feel the pain
grabbing the core of your chest
and let that bawling late at night
when everyone’s asleep.
it’s alright. that’s right.
swim even when you feel numb in your limbs
slowly, slowly, your body will start warm up
and when you raise your head above water
you’ll see how glorious the red yolk of the sun is
rising through the solemn horizon
you’ll see, you’ll see.
it’s gonna be alright.

9.15.2022

Sunset encounter

it was, albeit brief, a bright encounter
the wind was blowing the right way
the nostalgic sun light laid down warmly
as if written in the book,
as if it is the time to turn a page,
we arrived here: finally — quickly —
eye contact; flash of timid smile;
a question; a surprise; more thinking;
a bit; a burst of laughter;
explosion of emotions;
and then it came to an end —
with it, starts a dream of another rendez-vous
within you

9.13.2022

Memory

I told myself I will remember you
but I wonder if you do the same
I wonder if our lives were a little different
If we had chosen a path for a safe road
whether we would have lived a different life
but perhaps we are living a life of “what if”
this very second could be one
we would have really wanted to have lived.
to have seen wonders in life,
and to have risked it all in an ephemeral moment
telling ourselves that nothing will change:
I have no regrets.
although the memory is fading away
regardless of how hard I hold on to it
I have no regrets.
I just wished I could hold onto this a little longer.

9.10.2022

Sky blue

I feel blue
well what have you the clue?
ticking sound of a needle is getting louder
I am holding my two fists tighter,
faster, harder, better, but I realized
less soft I become, less connected, fossilized
dear blue sky,
here I lie
I have done my part, I believe.
if you will, show me what it will be:
the dream of our dreams.

학이시습지면 불역열호아라
진인사 대천명이라
나는 최선을 하고 있는 걸까요?
지도와 도움이 필요해요.
시간이 되면
도와줘요.

9.9.2022

Homeless flower

I thought smelled the scent of cheese
but then again, it could have been urine.
I turned and stared down onto a rock.
a grey, squared, flat rock.
there was a flower, albeit withered, on it.
a puff of white, yellow, and light purple
here and there carefully strewn about
and you think for a bit
who would have placed it there so carefully
as the dawn gets broken by the rising sun
and the cool azure hue dissipates
could it have been his last prayer
could it have been his last offering
could it have been his last hope?
one man’s fight,
one man’s statement,
and one man’s journey.

9.6.2022

Integrate

each step towards growth
faces resistance from the world not to
like the resistance of air as you soar towards the sky,
you feel each part of your body pulled by gravity
but hold on.
if you withstand this pressure
you will reach your goal
you will enjoy freedom in the atmosphere
and you will find your strong self.

온 사지가 떨어져 나갈 것처럼
성장통이 다가 온다 한들
버텨야만한다. 그럼으로써
우린, 더욱더 강해질 것이다.

9.2.2022

Hold on

there are so many things you would want to say
but
you knew you had to keep them in;
stoicism, inferiority complex, principle;
you name it. there’s enough reason to sacrifice
but one day, the words will start to bud
growing into a tree, feeding on imagination
and you may build the world
with the words you’ve kept in.

9.1.2022