Seeing What’s Seen

 

 

A house where birds can be seen out the window

If I say look, you can see the birds here

 

You say,

Everyone who lives in a house where you can see the birds says that

 

But anyone would say it

 

The window lets in lots of light

Light filters tenderly through the leaves and fills the room

 

Wow, you can see the birds here,

 

If someone comes over and says it one day

The birds scatter in a flutter of wings

 

 

 



Not Seeing What’s Unseen

 

 

A story. An ownerless dog was looking this way and barking.

It was looking at something behind me,

 

But when I turned to look, there was nothing there.

 

Really, a ghost story in this day and age?

You say with a laugh.

 

But the ownerless dog is still looking this way and barking.

 

Thinking of fingertips at my fingertips, thinking my back itches but is it okay to move?

 

Then, please come up here

An outstretched hand appears, but I couldn’t know whose hand.

by Hwang Inchan