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Villanelle (untitled)

Minseo Kang

No I could not find any profundity in water

Below the strange surfaces I could not rediscover

What had once been, and still lingered, according to my father


No downward rocking called to me, the notice-board roster

Of drowned sailors' names worshiped only by my brother

No I could not find any profundity in water


By the house, separate rooms, kept away from the altar

Not drowned as a child, I knew no need to recover

What had once been, and still lingered, according to my father


No I could not find any profundity in water

For the longest time I tried to make the undertow my lover

But nothing could be bothered to sweep me off the altar


And drag me down, pin up my name, notice-board squatter

If I could find the nerve to go they'd have no need to cover

What had once been, and still lingered, according to my father;


Certainly no need there'd be to keep me from the altar

Tall I'd stand and fast I'd sink and they could call me brother

But no doom for I, but a cover-eyed land-daughter

No I could not find any profundity in water

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