Poems of Prof. Lee, Hee Kuk (South Korea)

 

Looking at the Bottom of the Road

Since when did his feet disappear?

Cheongnyangni Market, wrapping his lower body with a rubber tube,

That man, crawling on the street.

Even though the place where he fell is rough,

Grabbing a day's worth of earnings,

Enduring the pain from the bottom of the road.

Even though he's on a flat road,

In fact, he is climbing a steep mountain,

He doesn't stop even in the face of thick dark clouds.

Even during the times of my life,

There was a time when I walked with a limp in the pitch-black darkness.

Blindly holding on to a handful of light,

Even though I fell and fell, I stood up again.

Even now, when darkness approaches,

The past me who endured that day wakes me up again.

A handful of spring sunshine,

That spring sunshine,

Falls and shines on the man's head.

Bridge

A bridge to the island is built,

People crossed the sea on foot

When I was young, there was a teacher like grand bridge,

He was my bridge

Parents used return to home late at night,

I stayed in the classroom and read until dark

The day it snowed outside the window,

warm hands wrapped around my shoulders

Korean language teacher,

he took my hand and led me to the office and home

A flower that bloomed in a remote corner, caressing it

The love that made me ride on his shoulders,

It was a bridge Which connects winter to spring

Outside the window, it snows like that day

Cars which biting their tails light up the darkness pass

Yeongjong Bridge

The road which is over the sea is bright

After You Come and Go

Trying to remove a red, rusty nail,

the head broke, and I couldn't pull it out.

Knocking the nail that sticks out halfway,

I pushed it completely out of sight.

Placed a sticker over it.

Only I know

Then the Lightning Passed by

A strong wind blows

The lightning crossed a line

The upright sunflower broke its neck

The black sky struck again with thunder.

That sound soaked the top of my head

Listening to the sound of thunder chasing after me, even shaking the window

I take out the memories hidden behind the shadows

How many sins have I committed?

I once stepped on an ant while walking down the street.

I couldn't have stepped on it

One day I accidentally broke a tree branch.

The tree had no choice but to put out new shoots,

The branch wasn't in the direction It wanted to begin with.

I also spilled someone's secret on the street.

I completely forgot about them

Another flash, a bamboo stick telling me to tell the truth

Has the tree outside the window committed any sins?

It calmly facing the rain.

When You Smell the Soil

The soil is a warm womb

Holding on to the lifeline of darkness

Buds showing their heads in the spring air

Squeeze through the gap and carry the soil with you.

When you stick your head out into the world

The soil supports their delicate legs.

A land that opens the first door of your life

The narrow path of life is opening in the spring sunlight.

I don't know the pain of the forest

The mountains and fields are writhing in pale green color.

Stepping on the invisible stairs in the air

Towering pine trees, cypress trees, and metasequoia trees

All of those things that have hot pulses throughout the four seasons

They grew tall through the suffering of life.

When October comes, silent incontinence spreads.

Annual short weeds

They secretly bury the well-ripened seeds in the womb of the earth.

I’m in a hurry to get ready to go back.

It grows by eating the flesh of the soil and returns to the soil again.

crumbs of soil

The parting ceremony of the forest will begin

My body will return to dust someday

It smells like soil.

About the Poet:

Lee, Hee Kuk is a Korean poet. Born in Seoul city of South Korea. He is Pharmacist and Adjunct Professor of College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea. He is a member of Executive of PEN Korean Center of PEN International. He published 5 poetry books. He won 4 Literature awards.