Asking the Way

By Ko Un
Translated By Suji Kwock Kim & Sunja Kim Kwock
You fools who ask what god is
should ask what life is instead.
Find a port where lemon trees bloom.
Ask about places to drink in the port.
Ask about the drinkers.
Ask about the lemon trees.
Ask and ask until nothing’s left to ask.
 
Translated from the Korean

Notes:

Read Suji Kwock Kim’s notes on Ko Un.

Source: Poetry (November 2014)