Korea - Third Month

Subtitled : A response to culture shock



I look out the window

at the beautiful day

and wish it were raining



How I long for heavy clouds

black with water

to come and hide the sun



How badly I want to live

beneath an oppressive atmosphere

that I can witness with my eyes



Must all my relationships progress this way?

Oppressive

Aggressive

Recession of Joy?



Even my newest mistress

with all her mystery

begins to lose her thrill



Of course, they warned me then

and now they say -

those who say such things

- "The bloom is off the rose"



What is left for me then

but to relish in sticks and thorns?


by Clayton Dean