A Poem A Day
First Meeting
by Ha Geum Joo
I'm very thankful to you, who treated me like a flower
when life was the coldest.
I was stepped on a lot,
and never got any attention on this journey.
(Continued below)
By meeting you, I met a new me.
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I'm very thankful to you, who treated me like a flower
when life was the coldest.
I Like You
by Kim Yong Taek.
One spring day I saw your love light up my backyard with happiness.
Which once was dark, under the shade.
You who called me out from the darkness with your love
With bright light that can only come from darkness,
You stood in front of me and smiled like a wildflower.
Ah, even the thought of you makes me happy.
Joke
by Lee Moon Jae
When you’re faced with something beautiful…
If you think of someone you wish was by your side…
You’re in love.
When you’re faced with quiet scenery or delicious food
If no one comes to mind…
You are either really strong or really lonely.
In order to make the bell ring louder, the bell must hurt more.
If you hesitate, you’ll miss your chance.
It’s Okay If You Don’t Love Me
by Lee Jung Ha
It’s okay if you don’t acknowledge me.
A new leaf will sprout, even under the cold rain.
And the stars will come out, even if the clouds cover it.
It’s okay if you don’t offer me a hand.
I blazed up like a dry leaf
​
(Continued below)
As someone who couldn’t say a word.
I’m okay with being in one-sided love
And then becoming love myself.
My love,
It’s okay if you don’t love me.
To You
by Lee John Hwa
​
You’re everything.
All paths lead up to you,
All songs are meant for you
And I’m blinded by your light.
​
(Continued below)
I can see only you in a crowd of countless people in the plaza.
I see you in every flower along the streets.
I see you in the coffee I make time to drink.
I can picture you along the mountain hills where the sun sets.
​
(Continued below)
Everything in this world looks different now,
and “waiting” no longer exists in my dictionary.
I’m always close to you.
The Point of No Return
by Kim Chul Hyun
Leaving the person you love
And turning around as if you no longer love them.
Hiding the pain in your heart
And turning around as if it doesn’t really hurt.
(Continued below)
Hiding your unwanted parting
And turning around as if it doesn’t matter.
Holding back your tears and turning around
As if you’re not weak.
If you love that person you can’t turn back
Because you love them.
It Only Rained After You Left
by Yeo Rim
It only rained after you left.
The rain turned into heavy rain
and I pictured you sitting in the bus with an upset expression on your face.
I felt my heart becoming sore.
There are times when people can’t be comforted by words.
​
(Continued below)
I sit blankly while looking out the window.
And even when I close my eyes as if I’m tired,
A part of my consciousness becomes that much clearer.
It only rained after you left,
In every street corner where I send you off.
Old Flame
by Choi Young Mi
Even though it was a flame that I stole away for just for a while
As long as I felt the warmth,
I forgot all my fears and sorrow.
It felt warm.
I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me
As well as everything you haven’t done for me.
Us
by Lee Ji Hyun
You’re spring and I’m the flowers,
That’s why I can’t even see the cherry blossoms.
I’m spring and you’re the flowers,
That’s why you’re all that I can see.
We’re the flower fields and we’re spring.
Going Home
by Kim Yoon Ah
On the way back home
I leave my heart to the setting sun.
And I think about the work that you do,
And feel sad due to countless thoughts.
Since there is no way of knowing
What will happen tomorrow.
​
(Continued below)
I can only embrace your back
And tell you that everything will be okay.
I feel like there is more that I can do for you as I grow impatient.
I feel sad for your heavy shoulders and long days.
I hope something good happens to you tomorrow
Because you deserve it.
I hope you unload your burdens and become happy again.
I earnestly pray for it.
Lily Magnolia
by Do Jong Hwan
I was happy because I met you
And I also suffered because I met you.
When I tossed and turned in bed while hugging a body
That no longer had feelings for me
​
(Continued below)
I felt flower petals falling on my head from above me.
In a garden where lily magnolias bloom
After the white magnolias wither away
The thought of lily magnolias blooming again
Pained me a great deal.
As I watched the tree and flowers gradually part ways
It was difficult to stand beside the tree.
It’s like watching yourself become a cruel person.
I was happy because I met you
And I also suffered for a long time because of you.
The Road to Seoul
by Kim Min Ki
To the magpie that came every morning
and sang before you left.
Once I leave, come back
and comfort my parents.
Who will take care of my old parents after I leave?
Why is my trip back to Seoul so long?
I Thought It Was Okay For Mothers To Do That
by Shim Soon Deok
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she works herself to death on the farm fields,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she sits on the furnace
and eats a cold bowl of rice for lunch,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if she does laundry with her bare hands
and cold water on a winter day,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
​
(Continued below)
“I’m full. I’m not hungry.”
Even if she starves while feeding her family,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if her heels are so worn out
that they make noises in her blanket,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
Even if her fingernails are so worn out
that they can’t even be clipped,
I thought it was okay for moms to do that.
​
(Continued below)
Even if Father’s anger and our
rebellion don’t faze her,
I thought it was okay for mothers to do that.
“I miss your grandmother; I miss your grandmother.”
I thought those were just complaints.
She woke up in the middle of the night and cried in silence.
When I saw that…
Ah, it was not okay for mothers to do that.
At Seonunsa Temple
by Choi Young Mi
It may be hard for a flower to bloom,
but it withers away in an instant.
Without the time to take a careful look,
without the time to think of you,
it withers away in an instant.
(Continued below)
Just like when you first
bloomed within my heart,
I wish I could forget you just as quickly.
​
(Continued below)
You smile from afar,
you go over the mountain.
It may be easy for a flower to wither
but it takes forever to forget it.
It truly takes forever.
Poets, write poems about our lives that are in no way spectacular.
May I give you some advice?
Happiness
by Na Tae Joo
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It’s not about where we were yesterday
and it’s not about where we’ll be tomorrow.
It’s just about where we are today.
And, you.
Wound
by Jung Yeon Bok
​
There is no person in this world
who was never hurt.
Being covered in scratches after a long day
is just life.
Let’s not hide our pain.
We’re only human because we’re hurt.
Wounds can only be healed alongside another wound.