we

 

Two beggars

sharing a meal of the food they've been given

The new moon shines intensely

~ Ko Un

with thanks to Poetry Chaikhana

arrows

Transformed into arrows

let's all go, body and soul!

Piercing the air

let's go, body and soul,

with no way of return,

transfixed there,

rotting with the pain of striking home,

never to return.

One last breath! Now, let's quit the string,

throwing away like rags

all we've had for decades

all we've enjoyed for decades

all we've piled up for decades,

happiness,

the lot.

Transformed into arrows

let's all go, body and soul!

The air is shouting! Piercing the air

let's go, body, and soul!

In dark daylight the target is rushing towards us.

Finally, as the target topples

in a shower of blood,

let's all just once as arrows

bleed.

Never to return!

Never to return!

Hail, arrows, our nation's arrows!

Hail, Warriors! Spirits of the fallen! 

~ Ko Un

translation by Brother Anthony