Seaside Village

Seaside Village
Doseok Yong Wan Choi 05.24.08

On the dawn tide a small boat
raises anchor and drifts away inch by inch

the boats that whispered last evening
still asleep and quiet
has the harbor opened its breast and fallen asleep?
the village's shadow lay in its arms

leaving on the ebb and returning on the flood
the boatman who left the nest comes back to his old home
passing travelers stop by, grow fond, and leave

a far sea road drifting on alone
nestled between life and death
born of water and buried in water
a boat song far off is the tears of longing

to the whistle it leaves behind on the pier
the small boat crossing the horizon waves back

the sky's gaze looking down on the village
the sea smiles at the corners of its mouth