Melanie Hyo-In Han, My Dear Yeast

My Dear Yeast

I.

She says to me

“Everyone needs to learn.”

It too hard. I too old. I try

communicate with Granddaughter

doesn’t learn language of mother

because she already speak English

Universal language.

“My Dear Yeast,

It is prized catch mother hen

ignorance special bond.

I grab the hem of mother,

watching while trembling. Show me

your fertilized love giggles.

Love, Halmoni.”

II.

I came home

from school one day

and you were gone.

Mom said it was because

you missed Grandpa and

you missed Korea and

you didn’t wait for me

because you were bad

at saying goodbyes,

but I knew better.

You left because

you were fed up

with me, fed up

with trying

to teach Korean

to a granddaughter

who kept refusing.

So you went

back to your homeland,

a land I didn’t feel

was my home,

with nothing but

6,381 miles, 12 hours

on the plane, and

hurt between us.

“My Dear Yeast,

You know I grow up in Korea while Japan abuse forbid speak our language as child force learn Japanese language of oppress and change my name to other country. Yoshiko, they call me. Many word gone when release from Japan. Japan burn thousand and thousand book force study Japan forbid our language prison for people who wrote our words. Release from Japan regain our language miracle. I proud of my people my movement regain history country culture. Yeast, grow up in foregin country no use our language. And what do you know about war for our country? Last wish for Yeast. Learn language.

Love,

Halmoni”

III.

“사랑하는 효인아,

요즘도 잘 지내고있지?

할머니는 매일 밤, 달을 보며 효인이를 생각해.

엄마 아빠 말 잘듣고, 열심히 공부하고, 친구들과 재밌게 지내.

한국말도 잊어버리지 말고 계속 연습하도록 해.

할머니는 우리 효인이를 다시 만날수 있을때 까지

효인이를 위해 기도하고있을게.

효인이를 많이 많이 사랑하는 김방자 할머니가

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