Sea Mother (海母)

Sea Mother (海母)
* On seeing the carvings of Angkor Wat
In mama's belly there is a baby sea
it swims, waving its fins
Danggeum-agi [the maiden mother of Korean myth] stamps her feet
mama holding up her moon-round belly
the sea surges
bearing on her head a sky full of daytime stars
she sings to the baby, rocking, rocking
bearing the tearing pain, pressing down her inner breath
the baby cries out, wet with salt water
warm lips rub against its face
in the little hand groping for the breast
the gaze of mama's deep embrace pools
the growing baby seeks the old sea
and goes swimming with mama
the little rascal buries his head and digs a pool
builds a squishy mountain of sand
dips both feet in and splashes
the flood-tide waves call mama
the ebb-tide waves hold the baby in their arms
the sound of the waves drives the sunset along