Translated by Chae-Pyong Song and Darcy Brandel

Photography by Nataly Fomina

Fish Song by Hwang Byeong-seung

A fish in the tank listens:
A bird song flows by the window
And the bird greets,
“How are you, Mr. Fish?”

The fish replies
Flexing his gills:
Two water bubbles

The fish in the tank listens:
The bird song flows in through the window
And the bird asks,
“Do you also have a song?”

The fish listens:
The bird bids farewell,
“Take care, Mr. Fish”

The fish replies
Shaking his fins:
Two water bubbles

(Originally published in Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture, Volume 5 [2012])

Hwang Byung-seung was born in Seoul in 1970. He debuted in 2003 by publishing five poems including “Primary Doctor h” in Para 21. He has published two poetry collections: Sikoku, The Man Dressed as Woman and Track and the Star of the Field.