Story* buried in yellow dirt.

A single drop of blood begins to gather—
softly, silently.

It was the day when two skulls stumbled,
caught fleeing the wind.

A heart stepped backward, then fell,
shedding layer upon layer of ancient fear.

And from the lips of an elder
at the third watch of night,
history emptied itself—
and the dawn remembered how to rise.

© TaeHun Yoon, 1980

Kwangju Uprising (1980) – South Korean Democratization Movement (1960s-1980s): A Resource Guide – Research Guides at Library of Congress

* (The May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement) The 5.18 민주항쟁 refers to a pivotal pro-democracy uprising that took place in Gwangju, South Korea, from May 18 to May 27, 1980. It was a civilian-led resistance against military dictatorship, particularly the authoritarian rule of Chun Doo-hwan, who had seized power through a coup.