thank you Eric S. for this word in the Koroot kitchen
Far, far away
somewhere East of East
sits the Korean peninsula
Land of the Morning Calm
airfare exceeds my bank account
this is not my motherland
this is my Cousinland
Familiar airport lobby stranger greets me
holds my English scrawled name
the welcome I’ve always wanted
tonight I want to run away
pretend I don’t see him
this is my Cousinland
Who are these adopted Koreans?
Asian, black hair, almond-shaped eyes
English speakers
Australian, European, US passports
we sound not how we look
How do I eat this food I can’t pronounce?
fried egg tops rice
hot stone pot holds vegetables
red chili paste decorates
like cake icing
foreign spicy taste
What is this unshapely dress?
lost beauty, tradition
how to wear a hanbok?
tie the otkorum?
how do I pronounce otkurum?
this is my Cousinland
June humidity begs summer apparel
Korean society won’t tolerate
my sleeveless dress
women’s beauty shamed
Olympics, World Cup
provide survival English
language of origin expected
impossible to my tongue, ears
heart blocks vocabulary
alphabet haunts
Why is your last name Smith?
Are you married?
Are you Japanese?
Why don’t you speak Korean?
Are you kyopo?
Are you an original Korean?
Are you Chinese?
Why don’t you speak Korean?
This is my Cousinland!