Mineral

She was peeling one-

slow, methodic, like it hurt her.

Like the skin was was someone

she'd loved once.

Her fingers trembled

in that way sorrow makes holy-

the devotion of keeping it together.

How women are taught

to cry like saints:

quiet, citrus-sweet,

and alone.

The bench was wide enough

for two.

The sun was kind.

The world, indifferent.

In another world,

I might've sat beside her,

offered a tissue

or a scripture.

But in this on,

we make churches of avoidance.

We pray by not interfering.

Her eyes-

black galaxies

rimmed in salt-

met mine

for a moment too long.

And I swear

the universe

"No." Says the tuna, "Do you?"

"I have never seen it." Says the whale, "but deep in my body, I remember it."

"Why do you care," says the tuna, "if you will never see it."

"There are bones in my body built to walk through the forests and the mountains." Says the whale.

"They will disappear." Says the tuna, "one day, your body will forget the forests and the mountains."

"Maybe I don't want to forget," Says the whale, "The forests were once my home."

"I have seen the forests." Whispers the salmon, almost to itself.

"Tell me what you have seen," says the whale.

"The forests spawned me." Says the salmon. "They sent me to the ocean to grow. When I am fat with the bounty of the ocean, I will bring it home."

"Why would the forests seek the bounty of the oceans?" Asks the whale. "They have bounty of their own."

221013 RM’s Instagram Story

Don’t blame your drying, withering heart on anyone else You got too lazy to water yourself

Don’t blame your friend for how things have turned uncomfortable between you Who was the one to lose their warm affection

Don’t blame your relatives for things that remain unresolved I was the one making blunders left and right

Don’t blame that fact that you’re trying to make a living for the fact that you’ve forgotten your original purpose It’s not like it was strong to begin with, because of your weakness

Don’t blame the times for how wrong everything has gone Is radiant dignity that easy to abandon?

At least defend your own sensitivity You fool

(T/N: Excerpts from the poem “Your Own Sensitivity, At Least” by Ibaragi Noriko.)

두 발을 구르며 Pedalling with my two feet,

볼 수 없는 그댈 마주해 I face you whom I can’t see

언제나처럼 날 These few centimeters of excitement

맞아주는 몇 센치의 떨림 That you always give me

I wanna keep the bass down low

벌써 내 마음은 주말 mode My heart is already in weekend mode

I don’t see no open cars, no open bars

나쁘지 않아 온전히 혼자인 road It’s not bad, it’s just me on this road

섬처럼 떠있는 사람들의 마음 People’s hearts floating like islands

어쩌면 오지 않을 듯한 밤 The night that seems like perhaps it won’t come

지평선을 걸어가 또 굴러가 Walk along the horizon, and pedal along again

우리가 정한 저 소실점으로 Towards that vanishing point we’ve decided on

슬프면 자전거를 타자 If you’re sad, ride your bike

바람을 두 발 아래 두자 Leave the wind beneath your two feet

오 자전거를 타자 Oh, let’s ride our bikes

두 팔을 자유로이 벌리며 Spread your two arms freely

나 나나나 나나나 Na nanana nanana

나나나나나 Nanananana

나나나 나나나 나나나 Nanana nanana nanana

나나나나나 Nanananana

가끔은 굴러가게 둬 Sometimes I let it roll along

자전거 바퀴처럼 Just like the wheels on a bicycle

찾을 게 있어 There’s something to look for

오후의 간식처럼 Just like an afternoon snack

이 작은 순간을 위해 살아온 것 같아 I think I’ve lived to get to these small moments

두 바퀴 위에선 다 사사로운 한낮의 꿈 Above these two wheels, everything is like my very own midday dream

Feel the roof, smell the truth

멀지 않아 기적은 Miracles aren’t too far away

어떤 얼굴을 해도 지금은 괜찮아 Whatever face you’re making, right now it’s okay

진짜 소중한 건 눈에 보이지 않아 Things that are truly precious can’t be seen by the eye

땅에서 발을 떼 Take your feet off the ground

저 새를 닮은 태 Be like the birds*

섬처럼 떠있기로 해 Float like an island

바람을 따라 춤춰 Dance with the wind

Yeah 울어도 돼 Yeah, it’s okay to cry

원래 행복하면 슬퍼 Happiness usually comes with sadness

슬프면 자전거를 타자 If you’re sad, ride your bike

바람을 두 발 아래 두자 Leave the wind beneath your two feet

오 자전거를 타자 Oh, let’s ride our bikes

두 팔을 자유로이 벌리며 Spread your two arms freely

나 나나나 나나나 Na nanana nanana

나나나나나 Nanananana

나나나 나나나 나나나 Nanana nanana nanana

나나나나나 Nanananana

나나나 나나나 Nanana nanana

라라라라라 Lalalalala

나나나 나나나 Nanana nanana

라라라라라 Lalalalala

(T/N: *A more literal translation of this line would be ‘The posture of the birds’.)