Melancholy

BY SHIM SOON DEUK.

I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she works herself to death on the farm fields.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she sits on the furnace and eats a cold bowl of rice for lunch.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she does laundry with her bare hands and cold water on a winter day.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
'I'm full. I'm not hungry.' Even when she starves while feeding her family.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if her heels are so worn out that they make noises in her blanket.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if her fingernails are so worn out that they can't even be clipped.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if father's anger and our rebellion don't phase her.
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
'I miss your grandmother. I miss your grandfather.'
I thought those were just complaints.
She woke up in the middle of the night and cried in silence.
When I saw that ...
Ah! It was not okay for mothers to do that.

"I'm still a hostage of life"

If you ever loved me,
I wonder how would it have tickled me
If I only knew you personally,
I could imagine it more beautifully.

Even now I don't know you
But I still fall for you every blink.
You smile, my eyes smile
You cry ,I my heart tears
You laugh , my eyes glows
My eyes know only to reflect you.
I wish your eyes reflected me too.