Poems by KU SANG Translated from the Korean by Brother Anthony, of Taizé Contents 1. Mystery ................................................................................................................................. 1 Myself ................................................................................................................................ 1 Meditation .......................................................................................................................... 3 Here and There ................................................................................................................... 4 Within Creation .................................................................................................................. 5 In a Winter Orchard ........................................................................................................... 7 Mystery .............................................................................................................................. 8 Midday Prayer .................................................................................................................... 9 Within an Apple ............................................................................................................... 10 A Pebble ........................................................................................................................... 11 A Bundle of Stray Thoughts ............................................................................................ 12 Concerning the Void ........................................................................................................ 13 Concerning Secret Joys .................................................................................................... 15 2. Impermanent I.................................................................................................................... 16 Comic Dialogue ............................................................................................................... 16 White Lotus ...................................................................................................................... 17 Gingko Trees .................................................................................................................... 18 Certain Touching Memories ............................................................................................ 19 Touching Sights ............................................................................................................... 20 Komo Station, Mother’s Station ...................................................................................... 21 Impermanent I .................................................................................................................. 22 News of Death .................................................................................................................. 23 Old Age ............................................................................................................................ 24 3. From Dreyfus’ Bench......................................................................................................... 25 On Suffering ..................................................................................................................... 25 Dawning ........................................................................................................................... 26 Addition to Exodus .......................................................................................................... 27 I Give Myself Up ............................................................................................................. 28 Vested with Moses’ Foresight and Wrath ........................................................................ 29 Shame ............................................................................................................................... 31 From Dreyfus’ Bench ....................................................................................................... 32 Weeping of Magpies ........................................................................................................ 33 Homeward Journey .......................................................................................................... 34 The Pen ............................................................................................................................ 35 4. Mysterious Buds .............................................................................................................. 36 In all Places ...................................................................................................................... 36 To John ............................................................................................................................ 38 Christmas lament ............................................................................................................. 39 Easter Hymn ..................................................................................................................... 40 Before the Virgin’s Statue ................................................................................................ 41 Mysterious Buds .............................................................................................................. 42 Mysterious Wealth ........................................................................................................... 43 The True Appearance of the Word .................................................................................. 44 Jesus of Nazareth ............................................................................................................. 45 5. Garden by Moonlight ........................................................................................................ 47 Springtime Dances ........................................................................................................... 47 Spring Washing ................................................................................................................ 48 Spring Chrysanthemums .................................................................................................. 49 Scenes of a Summer’s Day .............................................................................................. 51 Seaside in a Lost Homeland ............................................................................................. 53 Moonlit Evening .............................................................................................................. 55 Garden by Moonlight ....................................................................................................... 56 Thoughts as Winter Comes .............................................................................................. 57 In a Winter Street ............................................................................................................. 58 6. Even the Knots on Quince Trees Tell Tales..................................................................... 59 7. Wasteland Poems ............................................................................................................. 176 8. Diary of the Fields ................................................................................................................ 1 9. Christopher’s River ............................................................................................................. 2 10. The Crow .......................................................................................................................... 67 11. Infant Splendor ................................................................................................................ 72 New Year ......................................................................................................................... 72 Wings ............................................................................................................................... 73 Rebirth.............................................................................................................................. 74 April ................................................................................................................................. 75 The World of grown-ups .................................................................................................. 76 Shame ............................................................................................................................... 77 A tricycle .......................................................................................................................... 78 Bathing ............................................................................................................................. 79 Lord! Once again.............................................................................................................. 80 Substance and reality ....................................................................................................... 81 Scenes from life ............................................................................................................... 82 Playing by himself ............................................................................................................ 84 Dreams ............................................................................................................................