A Million Candlelight Blossoms (poet: Na Haecheol)
My dear baby,
When you grow up,
And feel really happy,
Remember today’s one million candlelight blossoms.
When you are working together with your friends,
Instead of endlessly competing against them,
Remember the flames that were once blossoming
Up against the ranking-focused education.
When you are living in a safe society,
Where even a small cause of danger
Is eliminated, and prepared against,
Remember the flames that were once burning
Up against the incompetent state security system.
When the president
Passes by on a bicycle,
And goes shopping by herself,
Remember the flames that were once flaring,
Up against the authoritarian, above-the-law power.
When politicians and government officials are admired
And when the social leaders
Are honest and good examples,
Remember the flames
That never yielded, that persistently stood
Up against
Their predecessors’ unlawful and incompetent actions.
My dear baby,
Please remember
The one million blossoms of candlelight
That rocked and soared
For this country
In which you will grow up and live.
At Gwanghwamun Square
At Sewol Ferry Square
In Sejongno and Jongno streets
In the squares and streets of the entire country
In front of the Blue House,
Deeply sick,
Full of nonsense and criminality,
In front of the darkened government building complex and national assembly building,
In front of the constitutional court building
Remember those million blossoms of candlelight
Flaring like torches
While overcoming the darkness,
Inside the hearts of
Grandpas and grandmas
Moms and dads
Elder sisters and brothers
