First Snow
I wish the first snow would fall while we’re sleeping.
I wish it would secretly invade us like thieves and erase the map drawn by our world.
As we open the door, feeling the urge to urinate in the late morning,
I wish the white would reflect the light and blind us for a moment
I wish we would hum along to snow-flower musical notes covering every tree branch.
I wish we would greet our neighbors affectionately and send a text message
To an old friend who emigrated: Hey, we just had our first snow in your old village!
On a day when we were scolded by our superiors for being late,
As we left scribblings on the cold white drawing paper that heaven sent us on our way to work,
I wish we would call on an empty-pocketed, unemployed friend on our way home and drink warm liquor with him.
I wish the first snow would fall while we’re sound asleep, so we’ll wet our ears with snow-flower harmony.
Lee Jae-mu : born in 1958, professor, poetry [ I Surrender to Sadness ] etc
Translated by Seung-Hee Jeon
