이것은 시다: This is a Poem
by Hanul Kim
I.
It’s hard to read my mother
tongue because some time
ago I was adopted by
a language read by makers of
cheese and eaters of bread who
use hard effs and vees and
don’t know what’s said when
Mother tries to speak;
she feels betrayed because I
could have gone to her when
I was a babe when I
started to learn what
ehm-pay-ree-yuhl-lih-zum meant.
And now she’s hell-bent on
getting me back.
It’s really unfortunate.
Quite too bad.
My lips aren’t magical.
My ears are like dams.
I squint at her letters.
I don’t think I can
love her
the way
I’ve loved this Step-tongue.
II.
I once was abducted
By a language unknown.
I thrived in her care
And now that I’ve grown,
I crawl back to Mother,
Ready to face
Her anger, her rightness,
her violent ways.