from “Three Demons”: Sanki Series I

translated by Ryan C. K. Choi

Money

Flesh-
colored spring

                moon,
                flaring
above the graves.

                Hitched

to the North Star, the
pillar of ice grows fat.

Airstrip, yellowing,

                terminates
in the winter

sea.

                Cold seas

Pilot and dog
                frolic
through dead grass

fields
                and
roll around.

                Right eye

                Winter sea

                Angry
about money,
                sweat

                drips
on dirt.

Copyright © 2018 Ryan C. K. Choi. This poem originally appeared in Kenyon Review, November/December 2018. Used with permission of the author.