My Love, Ivy Vine

[Yonah Jeong]

Last year

Alan, the homeowner

cut down the base of the ivy vine

that had climbed up the glass window

in front of my desk in the study

soothing my heart

with its cool touch

He did so

because it was corroding

the red bricks of the old house

I saw the last two leaves

SOMETIMES

that were stuck to the plastic tape

This year, too

I am sending my days in a daze---

difficult days

lonely days

days when things didn't go my way---

until, by chance

I look up at the sky

and came face-to-face

with the ivy leaves

marching in a straight line

Bathed in the afternoon sun and breeze

of mid-August

they say to me, "Stay strong!".