Long Finger Poem

Hello Friends,
Since finger length has come up as a topic in our current presidential race, it seemed appropriate to share with you this work by Jin Eun-Young, translated by Peter Campion.
Enjoy.
Ellen


Long Finger Poem

I’m working on my poems and working with

my fingers not my head. Because my fingers

are the farthest stretching things from me.
Look at the tree. Like its longest branch

I touch the evening’s quiet breathing. Sounds

of rain. The crackling heat from other trees.

The tree points everywhere. The branches can’t

reach to their roots though. Growing longer they

grow weaker also. Can’t make use of water.
Rain falls. But I’m working with these farthest stretching

things from me. Along my fingertips bare shoots
of days then years unfurl in the cold air.

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