Did I not tell you that as soon as you cross the border, he is going to suck you into his belly and spit you out, and that you will be in need of another sanctification that will take hundreds of years?
Did I not tell you that thick greenery holds and turns his inequities into an unredeemable subject matter
Do you not remember?
You have written thousands of words wishing for your love from homeland to return, yet, 그님은 돌아오시진 않고, your spirit keeps getting tamed by his smoke and cross that linger above you.
Morning fog, steam sauna, blurry tears engulf your vision, so
You leave as soon as you can.
You get an invitation to come further South to make love, but you refuse as your body throbs from the night before. And you flee upward.
You arrive to this little place people call god’s land.
A bird flies over and asks you if you want to take a walk in her garden.
She takes you around and tells you stories from faraway long ago, and you forget yourself.
She hands you a bowl of water filled with 茉莉花 petals.
You close your eyes and sprinkle your forehead with two, three drops of jasmine scented water.
That blessed water saves you from damnation according to this ancient myth I wrote on behalf of you.
Praise this bird named 鳳 that has come with swift wind like holy spirit.
So go on, you will be alright.
Splash yourself with blessed water, and go on about another day.
You will be alright.
Jasmine in Chattanooga, Tennesse
