Mirinae: Korean Poetry

Family

Family
By: Choi Bum Young

If you can't say your hurt when
You're feeling hurt,
You are not family.

If you can't say you're happy
When you are feeling happy,
You are not family.

A sweet and soft ice cream cone
Is not enough to become family.
Pain, happiness and love
Must be shared.
And you must endure all hardships
In prayer.
Until you can feel it all together.

That's how we become a family.
You must be able to express your sadness
And be able to cry together
To be a family.
And to be able to be happy
For one another
To be a family.

You must feel like you are all under
The same blanket no matter
Where you are
To be a family.