[Afternoon Poem] Nagado (Island) / Jeong Jinhyeok

At some point, you started shouting at me to leave

No matter how much I left, I never really left

Where is "nagado" anyway?

Even if I jump into the fruit of the mogwa or run into the morning glory

There is no "nagado"

No matter how much I leave you, I am still inside you

In "nagado," it was a secluded room all day long

On a late street, I picked up a blade

I put it in my pocket and forgot about it

When I brought the picked-up knife home, someone said they were sick, and it felt blue

I cut myself while putting my hand in my pocket

It was as sharp as "nagado"

The island called "naga" was looking at the paulownia tree

The shadow of the paulownia tree went out the gate

The branches of the paulownia tree were climbing over the fence

Everyone hid inside the paulownia tree

One day, six books went to "nagado," a light bag went, a blue T-shirt went

The watch on my wrist went, and the black-and-white photo of me smiling went

All the things that left gathered in "nagado"

Words like the red flower stalks of cockscomb gathered in "nagado"

■ On a rare Sunday morning when I woke up early, clutching the remote control and rolling around here and there, I was nagged to go outside and exercise instead. Unable to resist the pressure, I went out, but there was nowhere suitable to go, no one to meet, no money, so I just walked around the neighborhood once, then again. Then suddenly, I noticed the magnolia tree’s winter buds and started counting them one by one. When I came back home, I was scolded, asking if I was really going out. They asked if I enjoyed wandering alone and poked at me sharply. Oh dear, really without understanding others’ feelings. I came back quickly because I missed you. Earlier, when I was about to go out, I sent a text to a friend who wanted to meet, but I ignored it and hurriedly came because I just wanted to see you. It’s frustrating and upsetting, but the dinner was so warm, so I felt even sadder and more melancholic. ? Poet Chaesangwoo

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