Poetry from Wansoo Kim

East Asian man with reading glasses and a light gray jacket over a collared plaid shirt standing in front of a gate and some leafy trees.
Wansoo Kim

Lightning Blossom

When I quietly close my eyes in prayer

Or stroll through the morning forest catching my breath,

Suddenly, a bud of lightning

Blooms in the sky of my heart.

That flower becomes a spring of poetry,

Whispering a new song

Or gently untangling

The knotted threads of my troubles.

A thrilling ripple striking my heart—

Perhaps it is

A shining jewel placed in my heart

By the Master of the universe who breathes wisdom.

This jewel, flown in on a beam of light,

Is a warm proof

That He lives and loves me.

May this mysterious gift dwell often,

Let me pray daily with a burning heart,

And may the jewels He has poured out

Shine for His joy and glory.

Even when the gift hesitates,

I quietly hold in my heart

The mysterious melody

That my beloved will someday sing.

Spirit

The spirit dwelling deep within the body

Hears a whispering voice above the clouds.

The soul breathing alongside the spirit

Is an antenna catching the world’s vibrations.

The soul listens to city noise and crowd murmurs,

The body sways to soft whispers of instinct’s temptations,

So the spirit often misses the Creator’s gentle breath.

Amid the whirlpool of desires stirred by soul and body,

My spirit firmly grasps

The Creator’s shining shield and sword,

And cautiously feels along the path

Opened by the grace and wisdom flowing from His spring.

O Almighty, who fills all things with light,

Do not leave my spirit to its wavering choices,

But guide my spirit with Your hand,

Illuminating the way with a quiet light,

That I may follow wholeheartedly every day.

Embrace my spirit, trembling with unrest,

In Your warm arms like morning sunlight,

And fill it abundantly

With waves of laughter that seep deep within the heart,

And with the hope of sprouts blossoming toward tomorrow.

Conscience

Every time a wicked thought passes,

In the dark forest of my heart,

A chilling blade grazes the flesh,

Passing like a flash of lightning.

Dark clouds gather and weigh upon my mind.

The river within my heart

Is tossed about like a raft in a storm.

Invisible whispers

Come like a gentle breeze

And illuminate the shining path.

The One who quietly guides from above

Is the lighthouse of the soul,

Shining upon us in the dark, a star that guides to truth.

Wandering the alleys of online political news,

As comments overflow with lies and hatred,

My heart is crushed like a heavy stone,

And my pulse leaps erratically like a cricket.

Even amid the flood of evil falsehoods,

With eyes clear as spring water, beholding the truth,

Let me walk according to the will

Of the Creator of all things.

With drops of prayer,

May I cleanse the lighthouse of my soul.

Wansoo Kim achieved Ph. D. in English Literature from the graduate school of Hanguk University of Foreign Studies. He has published 8 poetry books. One poetry book, “Duel among a middle-aged fox, a wild dog and a deer” was a bestseller in 2012. He won the World Peace Literature Prize for Poetry Research and Recitation, presented in New York City at the 5th World Congress of Poets(2004). He published poetry books, “Prescription of Civilization” and “Flowers of Thankfulness“ in America.(2019), received Geum-Chan Hwang Poetry Literature Prize in Korea(2019) and International Indian Award(literature) from WEWU(World English Writer’s Union)(2019). He published “Heart of God” in America(2020). He published an autobiography book, “Secrets and Fruits of Mission” and a poetry book, “Flowers of Gratitude”(2021). He received India’s Independence Day Literary Honors 2021”(2021). He published the Chinese version of his ebook, “Heart of God,” which reached Amazon bestseller #1(2022). He published poetry books, “Captive of Crazy Love.”(2023) and “Teachings of Mother Nature(2024).

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