We met—
when a burst of pale light
fell clean from the sky.

You,
after stilling the night’s stars,
were simply today—
and in your steady silence,
I found myself again.

So tomorrow too,
you will remain the path,
the ground I tread
again and again,
though my steps falter.

The crimson sun
crawled low,
close enough
to touch the soil,
close enough
to catch my breath
as I lay down
on the raw earth—
the morning after training,
my body sore,
my heart heavier still,
yet carried,
always,
by you.

[Before Series – 6]

© TaeHun Yoon

— May 20, 1973, Morning after individual combat training