For someone,

I want to become

A sweet potato,

And also

A single rose.

Ms. Ahn Hye-cho is an eminent poet from South Korea

Hailing from Korea, the Land of Morning Calm, poet Ms. Ahn Hye-cho made her literary debut through Hyundai Munhak. She is a former journalist and previously served as Vice President of the Korea Branch of World Women Journalists and Writers. She is also an advisory member of Korea PEN. Her published poetry collections include Oranges •Lemons •Tangerines, Bones in the Moon, In the Alive Things, and others. She has received numerous awards, including the Korea PEN Literature Prize, the Yun Dong-ju Literature Prize, and the Young Rang Literature Prize, among many others.

Sweet Potato and a Rose

Eating a sweet potato,

I think of a rose.

The sweet potato is good for the body,

But the rose is good for the heart.

For someone,

I want to become

A sweet potato,

And also

A single rose.

An early summer table.

***

고구마와 장미

고구마를 먹으며

장미를 생각한다

고구마는 몸에 좋지만

장미는 마음에 좋다

누군가에게

고구마도

되고 싶고

장미도

되고 싶은

초여름의 식탁

____________________ 

Read: Korean Poetry: The Source of Beauty