Ok-Bae Kim

IN YOUR LIFE

Though your glass is full of grief,
Don't be sad
'cause someone is more grief-stricken.
Though your glass is full of pain
Don't be suffering
'cause someone is more suffering.
Though your glass is full of despair,
Don't be frustrated
'cause someone is more frustrated.
Though you were hurt by someone
Don't feel hurt
'cause someone is loving you.

Though you seem to be loaded too much
Don't feel burdensome
'cause someone is carrying more than you
for your sake.
Please don't give up on your life
'cause someone is praying for you
even at this moment.


Translated from Korean by Irene S. Yoon


WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GRASS

Beautiful is grass in that it sprinkles the scent of wind
She gives gentle smile to children;
She makes a remote hometown for the elderly.
Blocked by flowers, she's unable to show off the spender.
But she gives herself to be the good soil for the flowers
And gladly makes way for the armful larch.

Trees grow old and die, flowers wither.
But grass keeps standing there in silence, giving water to the ground.
She gladly allows people to tread on her as they come in and out.
Grass lay down in the wind and waves in the wind.


BUTTERFLY EFFECT


In the Brazilian land of everlasting summer
A single flap of a butterfly's wings
sends its wavelength through California all the way to the Pacific
Maybe not the mathematical butterfly effect but
it's one single man, Bin Laden that turns the world into culture of terror
the lives on this polluted Earth is in growing pain
Today it is my decision on which everything depends
And more confusion engulfs us
A single thought of mine becomes a colossal wavelength and leads to
either destruction or construction.


Translated from Korean by Andy Kim