Poem: I saw them as well

Those crows you spoke of --
I saw them.

Winging agitatedly
across the graying mackerel sky.

I did not see the wounded raven
or the family of rabbits.

Because I had no dog with me
as you had
pulling and scenting and chasing.

So I have seen what you saw.

I wonder why the crows
cawed so loudly
why the darkening day
sent them
flying back and forth
their shadows dotting the winter sky.

I do not wish to see them again.
Whatever their purpose
I do not want to know.

Nor do have I cause to find the dead raven.
Nor do I want to see the limping hare
hobbling toward its family in its hutch.

But I wanted to tell you
so you would know
that I'd heard you
and your sleeptalk of the crows.

Poem: Watching Lee Jun Ki dance

So then...

if we stand outside of an ugly emotion

and peruse it

without guilt,

without self-recriminations

without moralizing

We can see the need

that birthed it.

So then...

this bitterness, this envy 

-- and do not tell me

that suffering makes the soul purer.

It does not!--

this bitterness, this envy

rose and continue to rise

from a pure need.

Again, I will not judge myself.

I only wish to be well.

Today I saw a body move effortlessly

across the dance floor

a beautiful body full of life and joy.

I fought against envy.

Being old, I fought against despair.

Being sickly, I fought against envy and anger.

I sat and watched

and managed to rejoice

in that one's lightness and youth.

I couldn't quite hope.

But I didn't hate either.

And I managed to smile.