NOTE: Rose of Sharon is the national flower of South Korea.
Hibiscus Syriacus: Rose of Sharon
Year 1950 and the burning
tires scorch the roses.
Year 1951 and the maggots
the soldiers spilt chew
on the azaleas.
Year 1952 and the tanks
make zippers over
fathers, sons, brothers and
the cosmos.
Year 1953 and I see
the oaks have burned
the birch have burned
and the rice fields have
shared the leech’s meal.
I have survived for
three years to tell stories
of children and
grandmothers
gnawing on roots and shot
for taking rice from the enemy.
I have survived for
three years to tell an
eternity of stories.
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