Blackberry brambles bud At the edge of the woods, And up from the grass Miniature primroses Unfurl butter-pale petals. Every evening this spring Seems to hold surprises— At the edges of wild and at The tips of our toes From the path to entice us. Do you also find surprises around every corner in springtime? …
As winter fades into the green of spring with occasional final throes of cold weather, I've been reading Korean and Chinese poetry that focuses primarily on autumn and winter, which seems a fitting way to close the season. If this is your first foray into Korean or Mandarin poetry, I suggest starting with more accessible …
Continue reading Poems for the Winter: Poetry Collections from Joseon Korea and Communist China
Fireworks crack the door ajar, and piercing light peeks through at break of night. Noisy with neglect, the hinges can only creep and screech. Then, with a bang and final flash— we’re inside, December’s din diminishing into the dark. We’re here in midnight’s silence, slipped over the sill. Now all is hushed and …
The road rises and falls ahead of me, Dusty gray asphalt shouldered by the Pale burnt orange of summer grass That whispers dryly as I pass. Down the center of the road between the pines, I notice how the mustard double lines Match the nodding goldenrod and Black-eyed Susans that stand Tall along the highway’s …
Insect rhythms rise and saw Beneath a half-moon midnight sky— Here a steady cricket’s chirping whir, There a syncopated shaker or an Intermittent washboard whisk. The invisible ensemble revels In jazzy solos and calls and responses, Weaving countless lines into a warm blanket Of song without a breath of silence— Incessant until the inscrutable conductor …
“It’s hard to resist, isn’t it?” “Yeah, I always walk by the plant section when I’m in here. I’m tempted to buy plants, even in the dead of winter when I know they’ll freeze.” We both laugh at ourselves and then push our buggies our separate ways along the grocery aisle. I wasn’t kidding, though. …
Spring is in the air, and jessamine’s in the pine tree’s hair. My second-story bedroom window looks out into a nearby stand of pine trees, and a flash of yellow caught my eye a few days ago as I opened my window shade. Grabbing a piece of paper, I dashed off a few exploratory lines …
"Second Glance" Not a tire in the road, but a turtle striking out on adventure. If you've ever dodged a turtle on the highway, I think you'll recognize this scene. Normally, I can distinguish turtles' distinct profile from a distance with the curve of their shell and the little neck arched out. This particular time, though, …
"New Seed" A pressed tree leafs out, painted veins distilling light— a seed sprouts within. "Tree Speak" Rustle, groan, and creak, paper pierced with ink. Silent? No, they ever speak. Both of these haiku explore how trees can be more than merely trees. They can create new worlds and have voices of their own when …
For me at least, every poetry journey starts in an unexpected way. If you’re reading this after watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo on Netflix, then your journey to this spot had the same origin as mine a few months ago: the brief quote from the poem “Charcoal” by Ahn Do-Hyun that appears in Episode 12 of …
Continue reading Poems for the Autumn: A Collection of Korean Poetry by Ahn Do-Hyun
