2024/Charlie -

I am from The Land of the Morning Calm.

From hanboks and temples.

I am from the Cheonggyecheon under the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Noodles, hot water, it tasted like Kal-Guksu.

I am from the sound of sizzling meats

The pink cherry blossoms

Whose BBQ I remember

As if it were my own.

I’m from the Seoul Tower and museums

From mugunghwa and Guksu

I’m from the delicious kalguksu and the Haebaragi

From myeon and jajangmyeon!

I’m from pizzas

With different toppings

And ten mango pieces I can eat myself.

I’m from the cold snow and polluted air,

curry and bulgogi

From the delicious restaurant lost

To the kind employees

Used to keep me safe and warm.

Under my bed was a purple dandelion

Spilling memories through my head

An act of bravery

To drift beneath my dreams.

I am from those moments -

Flashback before I woke up -

To a world fallen from my dreams.

Awakened to the light of the world.