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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