The Moment of the Sun in the Shadow
In response to the event which the UW student 
Matthew Shepard, gay, was beaten to death 
by two men in October 1998. 

When we don't see the negative faces within,
the reason for being narcissistic or being wild,
while the cells shrink,
the reflection in the mirror or still water
points to what we miss seeing; 
how do we prevent shame?
the mind, the real us, where 
the dark lake turns clear to mirror
the blue sky and clouds, where the snake can be
morphed and born a sainthood;
or the moment of the sun in the shadow;
if only we could grab it safely,
the gay youth, full of dreams, 
might've seen himself reach the peak.  

Byung Fallgren

Have you seen a bird that tries to communicate with you?
I have. On a barmy day of May, while picking up some rocks,
this bird, chirping wildly, came near to me and started acting
as though it were sitting on its nest, still chirping and looking
at me. I didn’t know what she was trying to say. What’s wrong
with you, birdy? My hubby explained that she has a nest in the
shrub nearby and is trying to tell us not to disturb it.
Don’t worry, birdy, I said, but she continued doing the protest.
Not only that, she even chirped to her partner, who was watching
us at a distance. And he, too, started doing the same act as she did.
Ah ha! We slowly went to our car. Oh-ho-ho, the female bird
uttered as if to say, Thanks for leaving us alone. I was astounded
by her courageous act of getting so close to the humans and telling them
that they are disturbing their not-yet-hatched chicks!
–Byung

silent sky
as morning fogs lifts
two doves fly

Wait until It Grows Roots
Tasfia Faizullah

The plant trimming requires no
less than its water to be changed weekly. I
ask my friend who gifted it to me: when will
I be able to transfer it into soil? She has never
tod me anything but the truth. I don't shut 
the window blinds now; my plant friend loves 
the suntoo much. I've been leaving the the doors 
open too; the spirits flit move friendlynow. Yes, 
of course. I'm afraid of death, but no less so
my own life. A friend can bring you 
back to sweeter senses. 

Tarfia Faizullah is the author of two poetry collections
In 2019, she was named a USA Artist Fellow. She lives in
Dallas.  

Bereavement is the source of Beauty 
  Han Yong-un (1879-1944)

Bereavement is the source of beauty.
The beauty of bereavement cannot be found 
   either in the priceless gold of the morning,
      or in the threadless black velvet of night.

Nor can it be found immortal life, nor in an unfolding 
blue sky.
Beloved, without bereavement, after the tears in 
agony of death,

How could I find life and laughter again?
Oh, oh, beauty is the child of bereavement. 

Han Yong-un was born August 29, 1879, in Korea.
A Buddhist monk, poet, and critic of the Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945.