Valley of Division

Valley of Division

Yong Wan Choi (12-24-06)

The day the child wandered the valley looking for the way
father to the North
mother to the South
the sorrow of that day that never fades

This year too spring has come
and while the child's blood-soaked cry echoes back and forth
seventy years sweep from the mountains to the fields

when the scent of wildflowers softly spreads its color
in the season when migrating birds chirp their spring songs
sunlight lingers by the deserted brook
and under a blue sky, still as if it had forgotten sorrow,
when a spring butterfly rests on a petal and moves on
the child's plaintive call
mama, papa
seeps on the wind through the pine paths
the footsteps that wait for their return in spring
build a hut on the sunrise side of the valley
begin plowing the fields and paddies
and make kimchi on the crock terrace by the well
will that day come again, when papa and mama return?