Chong Sei-Hun (1955 - )

Of working class origin, Chong Sei-Hun was a factory-worker when he began to write and publish poetry.

Don't call me a poet

Don't call me a poet

don't call me a writer

just call me a worker

Call me a worker

born in a poor family

a laborer from early youth

Poets sing

I don't sing

I only talk

as the poor head of a family

as a woman's husband

as the dad of two kids

a worker with no hidden land

no learning

no powerful friends

I just talk

of how I live

loving this world

Don't call me a poet

call me a worker

busily selling my labour to live.

Empty Field (by Chong Sei-Hun)

It was quite

empty

I could see

nothing at all

I could hear

nothing at all.

it was

still

like my mother's loving heart.

Owning nothing

it seemed

to have nothing to give me

So why

do I keep wanting to cry?

Speechless empty field

my old mother!