Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Ahn Sang-hak/Republic of Korea

That Person Came Back but I Was Not There 


I should have waited for that person then.

As a roe deer glances back when it crosses a hill,

just for a moment I should have stood and waited there,

if it were night I should have waited for dawn.

if it were winter, I should have waited for spring.

Like a bear waiting for a salmon.

like a magpie that waits for all the leaves to fall then builds a nest,

I should have waited for that person to come back.


I should not have gone running into the western fields because the sun was setting.

I should not have crossed over the eastern river because daybreak was far.

Like a lotus flower that waits for night then gives off scent.

like a dandelion that waits for spring then spreads,

I should have taken root and waited then and there.

I should not have wandered around in the dark,

I should not have wandered around the snowy fields

searching for that person.


I was not there when that person came back like a morning.

I was not there when that person came back like spring.

No matter how urgent it is, I can’t go back to yesterday.

no matter how much lingering affection remains, I can’t go back to yesterday.

With time’s coming and going, it was not something I could do.

With the seasons’ coming and going, it was not something I could do.

Then and there, I should have stood and waited for that person.


That person came back but I was not there. 



[The 1st Asian Literature Festival 2017]

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