Noh Cheonmyeong

Deer

Translated from the Korean by Jack Jung

Above where your long neck ends in grief, beast
of constant calm and wordless lips,
a crown sitting flagrantly
must prove you once belonged to a remarkable lineage.

Shadow draws one’s gaze deep down into water
recalling a lost legend
unbearable as memories of home
and a neck of sorrow lifts its head to a distant mountain.