Jeong Ho-seung's poem (32)

Translated by Brother Anthony and Susan Hwang

One spring day

the man attached to the cross

on the wall above my desk comes down,

drives nails into my hands,

drives nails into my feet.

All night long I flee

then, once he has caught me again,

I weep, hanging on the cross instead of him.

I thirst.

There is no sign of that sick old mother.

I am in charge of the dawn stars

as an ox approaches quietly,

strokes my emaciated back

and smiles.

A challenging poem, about the relationship between a Christian believer and

the image of Christ on a crucifix. Universal pain and universal compassion are

evoked together.