I Remember

It was a languid summer day in Seoul
When the crepe myrtles were in bloom.
Everyone was busy preparing for Father’s birthday,
Children frolicked in festive mood,
And Hobaegi, our dog, was jumping in contagious excitement.
The only thing that concerned me was those elusive “100 points”
And taking care of my baby brother for brownie points, 
Which meant special prizes from Mother, 
Children’s books and comic books she handwrote.

But no one came to Father’s birthday.
The War broke out the day before Father’s birthday,
Shattering our world, our peace.
No children showed him respect with deep bows, 
No words of wisdom or blessings 
Flowed from his own father's–or any guest’s–mouth.

Mother said it always rained on Father’s birthday,
And it was a good thing, for the Dragon loves water.
But it was not a good rain. 
The muddy river dike swallowed my rubber shoes,
And wanted to take my feet, too, 
As I tried to plod beside this or that sibling riding up on an adult’s back.

The Han River Bridge fell before our eyes.
Father, a solid athlete and expert swimmer,
Refused to cross the river, because he couldn’t leave us behind.
The three months’ hell started from that moment. 
Mother’s ruptured appendicitis turned into grave peritonitis,
And we children lost our innocence.
I, although only nine, was the eldest of all and 
Represented our household at town hall meetings,
Where I observed the People’s Court and even executions.

We learned what it meant to be hungry.
But worse than hunger were three kinds of sounds: 
Ringing of the doorbell in the wee hours of the night 
Meant they came looking for Father,
For a banker was “bad by nature” and deserved to be shot on the spot.
The baby couldn’t talk, but the four little kids
Knew that one mention of “Father” 
Would have made all of us half-orphans.

The airplanes flying low meant someone could die, 
As one of them killed our elder uncle and two dear cousins.
The missiles' whine made us tremble under the coverlet,
Sounding like a deranged policeman’s whistle leading everyone to hell.

And then all of that suddenly stopped, just as suddenly as it started.
We were on the street greeting you, alien soldiers on foot.
You were all dirty and hairy–of all colors, yellow, red, brown, and black.
I saw all the adults were genuinely happy to see you, 
Shook your hands and handed over the Korean and American flags.
Some embraced you as long-lost brothers,
And children began prancing with joy again.

I remember thinking, “Are these creatures who pulled us out of darkness holy ghosts 
or the Monkey-King Sūn Wùkōng’s doubles?”
The magic gave us the miracle of the Han River.
Look where we are and where they are–
It is not a Forgotten War, but the magic lives on and on.

The Korean Alphabet

Vowels and consonants sing to each other joyfully.
Where we were made our bodies show clearly.
I like you because you resemble me.
I like you because you are different from me.
You are a mirror image to me.
You were born to make me exist,
I’ve become complete because you coexist.
Heaven, earth, and man dance together within us. 
Truth, goodness, and beauty created us.

Peach of Immortality

I met you suddenly,
Like Destiny, 
Dangling high on a majestic tree 
Standing by a roadside.
Aloof, yet alluring, you were
Looking down upon the world.

Are you so ripe
Because you’re so near the sun?
Your deeply red body, 
Did it become so plump 
Because no one’s touched you?

Too high to reach,
You are all the more tempting.
I try you with my closed eyes,
Mouth-watering red peach.

One bite,
My lips touch your soft flesh.
I slurp your sap,
The sweet water wets my throat.
I gulp your luscious body,
Warm tears run down my cheeks.
My peach of immortality.

Thanksgiving Day 2020

So clear, yet so cryptic
The blue sky

So brave, yet so tender
The teary care-giver

So hoarse, yet so euphoric
The cry for justice

So turbulent, yet so hopeful
The wind of change

So sad, yet so beautiful
A friend’s story

So faint, yet so abiding
Mother’s fragrance

So gentle, yet so powerful
Uncle Hwang’s kayagum sound

So pungent, yet so delicious
Kimchi Jjigae

So remote, yet so close
Ariana’s soft face on screen

So familiar, yet so renewing
Bertrand’s presence.

Taishan Encounter (a Sijo)

How could I leave the Middle Kingdom          
    with Tai Mountain yet to ascend?              
The evil spirit twisted                                         
     my knee before six thousand steps!         
Heaven sent me a bamboo cane                       
     through my siblings from yonder.

New Year’s Resolutions

I will lose weight,
Put on my dainty hand-embroidered silk dress,
Walk lightly and cheerfully in confidence,
Indulge from time to time in heavenly baklava
Without feeling inhibited.

I will dance like a gypsy,
Remove the mask of a Confucian literatus,
Free my passion from inside,
Celebrate the sameness in fellow humans
Without feeling inapt.

I will say I LOVE YOU more often
To myself, to those who are part of me,
To friends, to detractors, 
Let everyone be easy in their skin
Without feeling insincere.

My resolves, so new yet so familiar,
Like Grandfather’s annual greeting card,
Are steadfast and close to heart.
The long shadow of temptation flickers Knowingly. 
Yet today I am on cloud nine 
At the image of my fulfillment.

© Young-Key Kim-Renaud, all rights reserved.
Photo © MONOPOLE STUDIO PARKJAKA