Transcript: Poems on Air, Episode 64 - Tanya Ko Hong

The following transcript is provided for accessibility only. Layout, formatting, and typography of poems may differ from the original text. We recommend referring to the original, published works when possible to experience the poems as intended by their authors.

[Music intro]

LYNNE THOMPSON: Hello! My name is Lynne Thompson, Poet Laureate for the City of Los Angeles and I’m so happy to welcome listeners to this installment of Poems on Air, a podcast supported by the Los Angeles Public Library. Every week, I’ll present the work of poets I admire, poets who you should know, and poets who have made a substantial and inimitable contribution to the art and craft of poetry.

LYNNE THOMPSON: As the summer approaches, newspapers and magazines are making their suggestions for vacation reading, mostly of novels and non-fiction. In the meantime, I’m planning to catch up on reading collections of poetry that have been stacking up. The first of these is Tanya Ko Hong’s the WAR still within. Born and raised in South Korea, Tanya immigrated to the US at age 18. With an MFA from Antioch University, Los Angeles, as well as a degree in Sociology from Biola University, Hong lives in Palos Verdes, California. She is the author of four collections of poetry and recipient of multiple fellowships, including from Daesan Foundation.

LYNNE THOMPSON:Today’s poem is "Waiting" by Tanya Ko Hong.

Waiting

	When I think of you, rain comes
	When I call you, you come in rain
	When I touch you, you disappear

Bring me raw garlic and a handful
of bitter green wormwood
I will eat them and stay in a cave
21 days, 100 days
That’s how bear became woman
I will do the same—
	if I can see you one last time

There is another myth:
when you fold one thousand paper cranes
your dream comes true
If I can see you one last time
I will fold thousands—
	ten thousand paper cranes

I want to open your apartment door again
with the key that you sent by mail
the key still warm from your hand
I want to hang my clothes in your closet
between your clothes—
	I want to feel safe there again

Waiting for you is nothing
Without blinking, I watch
the night become silver rain in blue light
I will wait for you like a rock on the water line
wishing you to be a wave and reach me
If you touch
I will collapse and be water like you

LYNNE THOMPSON: The Los Angeles Poet Laureate was created as a joint program between the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles Public Library and this podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!

[Music outro]

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    • DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a certified or verbatim transcript, but rather represents only the context of the class or meeting, subject to the inherent limitations of real-time captioning. The primary focus of real-time captioning is general communication access and as such this document is not suitable, acceptable, nor is it intended for use in any type of legal proceeding. Transcript provided by the author.

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