By Kim Sa-in
"It's all learning"
After saying these words
I feel at peace
Mother's passing
Staying behind to see her off
"Our mother is undertaking her final great lesson"
After saying this, I become
a good boy kneeling before a low wooden desk
(omitted)
The day drawing to a close
The rain falling
The wind blowing
Like leaves falling and new sprouts emerging
Someone departing while another arrives
Sometimes standing by, watching intently
"It's all learning" — after saying this, things become a bit more bearable
Thanks to this poem, I have gained a new incantation to keep. "It's all learning" — I contemplate the power held in these few syllables. The phrase "This too shall pass," known from another poet's verse, once brought comfort, yet this new phrase is even more concise. And there's more: rather than simply passing, these experiences become learning. At some point, the African phrase "Hakuna Matata" became popular, but this year, I will carry in my heart this more elegant Korean incantation: "It's all learning."