[Afternoon Poem] Secret Weapon / Shin Mi-gyun

Narrow alley

Shuffling along

The grandmother collecting scrap paper

Her handcart

Scrapes

Alongside a sleek black foreign car

Without even removing the temporary license plate

Passing by with a swish

The car owner

Fuming with rage

Jumping up and down

Shouting loudly

The grandmother slowly

Straightens her back

Turns around

Expressionless

Looking over the car owner's shoulder

At the bird

On the tree branch

She sees

■ This is an interesting poem. Judging by the context, the “grandmother collecting scrap paper” in this poem is likely someone with 'sashi' (strabismus). In other words, 'sashi' is the grandmother's “secret weapon.” But how can 'sashi' be a “secret weapon”? It is due to a misconception. Having 'sashi' does not mean one cannot see things properly. The misconception that she cannot see well is entirely the “car owner's” misunderstanding. And upon reflection, this misconception is a product of prejudice. However, we should not criticize or belittle the grandmother's clever trick. Consider the discomfort, injustice, unfairness, and violence she must have endured throughout her life to become “expressionless.” ? Poet Chaesangwoo

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.