Peacock (孔雀) in the Botanical Garden

Peacock in the Botanical Garden (孔雀)
Yong Wan Choi

Perched on a branch over the wall by the road, they keep watch all night
and the males sing loudly, calling up the dawn
are they crying out the name of a mate seen in a dream
having flown beyond every world in search of their own
they fold their wings among transplanted trees
unable to forget the sorrow of leaving the sun
they embrace one strand of joy in a cramped life
greeting his mate, he spreads the flowered fan of his tail wide
and makes a splendid bed for his queen to lie on
bending his long deep-blue neck low
he shakes his body and shows off
the weeds uprooted from the fields, name-tagged and standing around,
the laughter of petals in full bloom
faces brightly tended, they get along as if happy
a day locked inside the wall that all of them share
hiding the lovely-hued pattern of his tail behind him
before today's flowers wither, he spreads it once more