Korean Poem "A Single Jujube" By Jang Seok-ju

 

A Single Jujube

                By Jang Seok-ju

It could not have turned red all on its own.

Inside it lie a few typhoons,

Inside it, a few peals of thunder,

Inside it, a few strikes of lightning.

It could not have rounded out all by itself.

Inside it lie nights of biting frost,

Inside it, months of scorching sun,

Inside it, days of the crescent moon.

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From the poetry collection *The Deeply Red Tiger* (Jang Seok-ju, *Aeji*, 2005)

Selected as a "Fine Poem" by readers in the Winter 2009 issue of *Sihaneul(PoemSky)*

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< Reflection >

In the yard stands a jujube tree—unlike the one in Jang Seok-ju’s poem—that simply thrives. I am so grateful for it. It bears large, plump fruit, too. Let’s brew some delicious jujube tea again this year!

I’ll melt away the winter chill of the Gangwon-do mountains with the rich, fragrant warmth of jujube tea!   Thanks to you, I’m getting through the winter.