The Mermaid Princess of the Haewoondoo Sea

(Teacher's Poem)

A shy virgin sea is the Haewoondo sea,
Who waited thousands of years for the day her lover would come.
Every year, every summer, she was afflicted by strange, uninvited earthlings,
But the virgin Haewoondoo firmly kept her chastity like that of a bamboo tree.
Finally, impatience led her to disguise herself and appear as a mermaid.
She overthrew her waters and uplifted herself to the height of a rock.
Day by day, she sighed faintly to meet her anticipated lover,
     the King of Grace.

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The Flower on the Rock

(Teacher's Poem)                                                                      

Flower on the rock,
You flower on the rock,
How lovely is your appearance!
Though there is  not a thing for you to eat or drink on that rock,
What is it that you eat to make you so attractive?
You pretty flower wearing such bewitching make-up,
What did you do to render your face so lovely?
And how sweet is your fragrance!

You nearly died of dehydration under the hot, scoring sun last summer.
And then, how did you suspend yourself onto the rock during such tempestuous weather?
And how you cried all night, quivering, trying to endure the snow and wind...

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The Snow Scene of Mount Songni

(Teacher's Poem)



Just last night, the angels of heaven

Started spreading the snow-flower petals.

Just a few moments ago, they decided to turn over the entire flower basket,

And only after pouring out every petal did they cease.

On every dried up pine tree, the snow-flower petals

Landed ever so lightly and sat on each branch.

Petal, petal, snow-flower petal,

All the petals have now fully bloomed.

Oh, beautiful winter paradise,

Oh, beautiful paradise, Mount Songni.

I quickly opened the door and ran out,

Rushing up into Mount Songni,

Ah! Where is this place?

Is this the place heaven?

Is this the heavenly paradise?

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Sorak Mountain Friends

(Teacher's Poem)

With my brethren, we make our way up the Sorak Mountain this early morning.
My Sorak Mountain friends -- in this mundane world, they have been harassed to the point of exhaustion  
     offensive, detestable humans.
There is no longer the slightest desire to see them or meet them, and so my Sorak Mountain friends hide,
     overthrowing a blanket-layer of fog upon themselves, sleeping away their grief.
Suddenly, the Royal Prince and His party's Honorary Debut is at hand, and though their coming delayed,
The mountains joyful shout and resounding echo awaken in a the surprised Sorak Mountain friends,
Who kick away their blanket-layer of fog and awake in a daze.
The news is excited spread to one another, waking this mountain here, that mountain there,
"It is the Royal Prince's Honorary Debut, it is the Royal Prince's Honorary Debut!"
And each fling off their blanket of fog and jump up waving their hands ecstatically.

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A Moon-Lit Night on Lake Lanier

(Teacher's Poem)

I am enraptured by the moonlight our Daddy pours

onto lake Lanier.

How is it that you have such a lovely appearance, such a captivating face?

I complimented the So-geum river and the Hae-geum river of the east,

But you are more beautiful, more charmingly adorned that they,

And with terrible jealousy you appear before me.

The moment I saw you,

My heart  was so enthralled that I completely lost my soul

in your beauty.

As you made your way softly toward me,

And upon hearing your loving confession,

"Royal Prince, I love you,"

I utterly lost my mind.

I have still a long, long road ahead of me,

But enchanted by your charm,

This Royal Prince is unable to take one step away from you.

My beloved moon-lit night lake Lanier,

My heart which has completely fallen for you

Is struggling whether it should give up the heavenly paradise for you...

And with such an enraptured anguish,

I stay awake this night, unable to sleep.

                                                                                --1990.11.2 Atlanta, Georgia--

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My Daughter, New York

(Teacher's Poem)

My beloved daughter, New York.
What has happened that you have become like this?
How has this happened?
You are well at the age of a beautifully blooming youth,
But what was happened that you are so malnutrition,
Your height like that of a dwarf.
And your face sallow and wan with only the streaked imprints of tears.
My child, how have you become like this?
A most pathetic beggar, your clothes are all torn so that you cannot even hide your skin,
Looking so pitiful with your famished stomach stuck to your back,
Who has beaten you so terribly that you  whole body is imprinted with such bloody bruises?

My beloved daughter, New York
My beloved daughter, New York
Who has made you like this?
Who has made you this you way?
Who has stolen and eaten all the nourishing food sent to you every month, leaving you so impoverished like this?
Who has taken all your pretty clothes sent to you every season, leaving you as the most pathetic beggar like this?
How is it that your precious body--which cannot be traded for gold, jade or the whole universe--has been so beaten and bruised like this?
My poor, poor daughter, New York,
My wretched, wretched daughter New York.
Now, I will not leave you alone,
Now, I will not leave you so far away,
Now, I will not ever let you go from my bosom.
My golden daughter, New York,
My jade-like daughter, New York,
Now, be relieved and rest in my bosom,
Now, happily eat and run,
Now, please just grow on steadily, beautifully and diligently.

Do not argue among your brethren and love one another as you continue to grow on beautifully.

                                                                                             

                                                                                                --1990. 10. 29 Night in New York--

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Mountain

(Teacher's Poem)

Mountain Mountain Mountain

She is the loveliest friend in the world.

Her heart is generous and kind, and her love is never changing.

This mountain friend has as benevolent and holy a heart as our heavenly Daddy.

That is why she attracts man, animals, and all flying birds,

All admire the mountain and seek to go there.

Even though secular people quarrel with one another,

If they just flee to the mountain,

They like and love one another

And sing songs of heart-filled joy.

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Become A Dirt

My loving Son

Become a dirt I say again,

Become  a dirt 

Become only a dirt

Though stepped on 

Crushed 

Soaked in water

Dried in sunlight  

Though ground and thrown away,

Be ground and thrown away without a word 

Become a dirt

Though dug by a hoe

Stabbed by a shovel

Ground by a plough

Pierced ad broken by a rake,

Be patient and endure all things

Become a  dirt

Though dug by a weeding hoe

 Dug by a shovel

 Though grains are shown

And trees are planted,

Grown the trees without a word

Become a dirt

Though the cow steps on you

 The dog steps on you

The pig steps on you

 The birds step on you

Though humans step on you,

Be patient and endure all things

 Become a dirt

Though animals defecate on you

Though the birds and insects defecate their filth on you,

Be patient and accept without a word

Become a dirt

Though animals dig a hole People dig a hole 

Snakes dig a hole 

Though mice may dig a hole in you, 

Do not voice your pain and quietly be overcome 

Become a dirt

The billions of trees thrust their roots into you

Thousands of plants drive their roots into you 

Though humans may dig a well in you

And pump you dry,

Be wordless throughout all this

Become a dirt

The poison all animals of the world give out

The poison all humans give out 

 The poisons all factories and cars give out,

After having wordlessly received and swallowed then all,

Give out only good vegetables and fruits

To serve all man and living nature 

Become a dirt

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The Ocean Laughs

The ocean laughs
In pleasant weather
And even in poor weather.
The ocean laughs,
Despite rain it laughs
Despite snow it laughs,
And even despite wind, the ocean laughs
The ocean laughs
Whether men are fighting 
Or dancing with joy.
The ocean laughs 
Whether nations are at war
Or in peaceful amity.
The heart of the ocean is wide,
The heart of the ocean is deep,
That is why the ocean forgives all things
And loves all and gives smiles to all.
Likewise, all people of the beautiful Stone Kingdom
Are holy people who have The good-nature hearts of the ocean.

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