nkss 2016 sijo collection

Alma Moran

Learn

Relish the wisdom provide the platform to acquire itDo not obstruct or reject knowledge nurture the minds insteadDo not retreat from the unknown weave your way into the light

Rananah Lubovitch

The Lyric

The magic’s deep, cavernously housed; Beneath the soul it lies

A jigsaw puzzle jeweled with tones; Expression from the heart

But Lo! Cemented shut the door; So cancel please, spirit’s dead

Kelly Martinez

A wagging tail to greet meas I creep in early morn.

Let’s walk along the shorelinechasing birds up hill and down

Stay closer still, I need your warmthbeside me. Are you still here?

Sabrina Moné Gustin

Modern Korean

How do I decide Shaman, Buddhist, Confucianist, Christian?

Can I be uniquely all of these, yet none of these combined?

My soul strains against, but remains enveloped in legacy

Yunme HanksHome

Where is your home, Los Angeles, I reply

Is that where you are born, Nay I say,

Once settled, I call it home forever where I stay

고향이 어디오하면 엘에이라 대답하네

거기서 태어났냐하면 그렇지 않다 말하지

정착한 날부터 평생 살 고항이라 부르오

Yunme Hanks

Lovely faces singing and dancing

Making them cry and laugh awe and woo

Korea, you are heroine of today

꽃같은 얼굴들이 노래하고 춤을추네

인생을 연기하면 전세계가 박수치며 환호하네

코리아 , 드디어 주인공이 되었구나

Al Grindon

Sijo Thoughts on a Long Commute

L.A. traffic crawls and lurches toward far Koreatown.

I might have slept in, read the Times, and tended my cucumbers.

For cheap enlightenment, and maybe bulgogi? I press on.

Emmanujel Galang

He’s My Best Friend

I drive home from the pound, Adopt a companion; a hound

He looks so peaceful laying downHis fur coat thin and light brown

10 years later and so it goesI drive home from the vet. Alone

Susan Goldman

Old Mother

Stay, wait, sit, please, I Love You, Time has stolen you from me

Once my lap, hand was fought over, now empty, desperate for your warmth

I know you must grow, leave in order to thrive and be free

Susan Glodman

New Mother

Baby crying, wailing from sleep, fear, hunger; Mother bereft

Laugh, smile, giggle so sweet hits my heart, spreads to fill my soul

Please baby your sadness will flee, rest in my arms, find your peace

Liz Bowen

Lying on the couch, watching television- the earth shook.

Quickly jumped up and exclaimed, “Oh my!” Looked the cat in the eye.

Nothing on the internet, it was just an Earth hiccup at 2.

Jesenia Chavez

Untitled

Beginning to know you more, your story, your food, and dress

I didn’t know much except K-pop, kimchi, Psy, but I’m now blessed

To know there’s more to Koreans; Resilience, Empowered, Complex

Sarah Kim

The Bird & Flower

His voice was soft and beckoning, trickling with nectar

“Just a sip”, I said as I drew from him, the sweetness and the tender

Little did I know, I mistook his sweetness for love, while he saw me as a mere bird

Sarah KimThe Small Peach

The other fruits were glorious and ripe,

Glistening and recognizing its gleam as its pride

But they’d tease and batter the peach runt-

Tittering that the small peach would be liked by none.

“You’ll see, You’ll see!”, the poor thing cried.

Soon the fruits were taken and shipped.

All but the small peach who slipped through the net?

Sarah KimWho I am

When I was younger, my mother would pack me “gimbop”Wrapped neatly and tucked in a box

And around me, my friends would ask for oneEager to meet new people, I gave them some

To think that the food brought me closer to my roots.Would bond me with people and embrace diversity

Greg Hill

City of Angels

City in the distance, blocked by haze, she still breathes liteTraffic stalls, the driver at ease;

Midful destination; all is well

Malinda Troy

The Seminar

Starting with mothing, it took a full day to get my bearings

Lectures with new data and graphics flooded my synapses

Creative activities slowed the flow; I can think again.

Julie Romero

Summer Day

Enjoying the summer sun with the growth of heat

Sun bathing, barbequing, swimming, and children playing

Be welcoming to the heat as it warms all hearts

Rosita Pascual

The Old Maid

Under the stars and moon, A lady sadly sighs, cries and prays…

Empty arms, long-gone smiles, silver hair lonely heart wastes away…

For she has never known the love of her dreams nor what it means

Brian LeeBeautiful Sky

The sky is colored like beautiful flowers

Red yellow and orange, the beautiful sky is dyes, Like pretty flowers

Who painted the sky do you know I know I know who painted it

It is my dear sun who is hiding

Jaime Luna

Soft wind playing with her long hair

Her smile fills the void of space

The pounding of my heart

breaking the symphony of silence

Do I dare? A simple stare takes my breath away

Laurence Tynan

Dichotomy

I have learned so much about Korea, More than I knew before;

From the three kingdoms, through invasions and wars, Korea persists;

Now she is a leader in the world, but why two kingdoms

Myra Oliva

Carter

His eyes sparkle like the sun’s reflection on the laughing sea.

He has an infectious smile that warms my weary soul like a healing balm

Carter come and stay; but he turns and runs away

Aaron Rodriguez

Sijo

As the wind blows my kite takes flighthigh in the sky it escapes my eye,

Harder and harder the wind blowshigher and higher my kite goes;

Then it gets bored and drops it like a hot stone,CRASH!

Rosalia Soria

Do you remember me? I recall you! It stole you from me!

Dark far away moments, I am of you

Do you remember? It’s okay! I love you forever, mom!

최희성

뭐든지 매우려는 학구열이 영원하길

언제나 이런마음 애곁에만 있어다오

새학기 시작되아도 학생들도 이러하길

Soelia Mier

Immigrant child frustrated with academics

Now, as a teacher it is my pleasure to engage my students in learning

My goal is to ensure students and parents feel part of the school culture

James Wong

Stranger in the Mirror

These days, I don't recognize the person in the mirror. I look and keep looking, and yet I can't seem to recognize the reflection. I just want to know, who exactly is that stranger?

요새 거울에 보이는 사람을 못 알아 봅니다 . (17)보고 또 봐도 그래도 못 알아보겠습니다 . (16)전 , 그저가 누군지 알고싶습니다 . (13)

James Wong

On a bus full of familiar faces, we head to L.A. (16)

We flew, we soared, and we conquered a week of culture. (16)

But tomorrow, will we remember our yesterday? (13)