Dawn Light

Dawn Light
*New Year's poem for 2013, the Year of the Snake (Gyesa)
Biting the dragon's tail, the white snake (白蛇) wakes from sixty years of sleep
and pierces the darkness to soar into a new sky
Goguryeo's Black Warrior, the serpent coiled around the tortoise
descendants of Jang Bogo and Admiral Yi, who ranged the southern seas
the Han River's current writhes and stretches out to the world
linked early to forebear clans in Mongolia and Tibet
kin who ran as far as the continents of North and South America
with kimchi, doenjang and ondol rooms, raising dolmens
the Korean Wave overflowing with deep and witty flair
our language and Hangeul culture spill across the five oceans
the circle dance of the white snake, soaring at ease without leaping
the Korean Peninsula cradling the Taebaek range
from Hallasan, Jirisan and Kumgang to Baekdusan
a new baby's cry rings out in echoes
the spirit of youth, hearts pounding full
light the torch on the road to peace for the six continents
raise your voices and sing a hymn to the glorious homeland
leading the cutting edge that reaches the moon and Mars
the lifeblood of Gwanak [Seoul National University] pulling the Earth along
open the gates of the solar system and fly the flag of the white-clad people