Song of the Mushroom

Father, at Evening
Just Because
One Leg
In the End
Pissers
The Mountain Village’s Cross
Principles of the Sea
As if Washed
Misiryeong Letter
Misiryeong Letter
Rice Paddy Waters
The Sun and Moon Never Rest
To Be Beautiful
For Absolute Solitude
The Radish Seed Is Strong
That Country
Hello Goodbye, Earth
Sky Lake
Song of the Mushroom
Gardenias Are White

Poet’s Note
Poet’s Essay
Commentary
Praise for Lee Sangguk

For the most part, poets are people who call out by name the small, the insignificant, or what is forgotten. We build them homes or observe rituals of welcome and parting for what comes
to us unexpectedly and what departs without a word.
- From “Poet’s Note”

The cart of poetry that Lee Sangguk has drawn for nearly 50 years has two emotional wheels. One wheel is formed by what was learned by breathing in Mother Nature, and the other wheel
is formed by sentiments that form by growing up in an agrarian society. These two emotional wheels carry two loves. One love is formed from the natural sense of community that rises from
the belief that all life on this earth is one. The other love is embodied in agrarian communities, in these communal societies where there is no "you" or "I," people simply share and help one
another.
- Ahn Sang-Hak (Poet)