#seoul
There once was a woman from Seoul
Who swallowed an octopus whole:
It swam in her belly
With fishes of jelly,
Then plopped in a porcelain bowl.
Mar 15, 2025
Mar 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM UTC
Seoul, 21.34 p.m
In this busy street people comes and goes,
some is going back to their home from a hectic day,
some is going to hang out with their friend,
some is going to recharge their energy with food,
some is going to meet the person they love
and here I am, watching over them from above the hill
rushing to the place they have to go
making thousands of little red-yellow lights from their vehicles
21.37
your city is so pretty,
just like you.
Nov 12, 2018
Nov 12, 2018 at 10:40 AM UTC
the water lapped about my waist,
the coolness stung my skin.
I sat upright on the shore, eyes closed,
my body taking in the feeling.
I felt the sand seep around me,
stick to my limbs and cling to me.
I focused on my breathing and my heartbeat,
I listened closely to the noise that surrounded.
I heard the waves hit the bank,
I flinched at the occasional siren, and prayed for the safety of those it aided.
I counted car horns and footsteps.
I tuned out any voice in my head.
Becoming one with the river,
forming as one into the earth,
I sat still on the banks of the water,
in a city where the river ran through it.
Aug 5, 2018
Aug 5, 2018 at 12:42 AM UTC
There was a time
when I blocked my face
with two palms,
only to avoid seeing the world.
But the two palms can only block
the world in my eyes,
not the world in my heart.
The world in my heart
is always too big
to be blocked by the palms.
Especially when there is you in it.
You...
smiling and offering the love
that reminds me
to the most delicious
Korean persimmons
in Autumn season.
(Now I start to feel that without you,
Seoul is nothing but an empty city,
and the world is nothing but an empty place).
-Kanya Puspokusumo-
http://doeniadevi.wordpress.com
Oct 8, 2017
Oct 8, 2017 at 4:15 PM UTC
I've always known,
You are only but a dream,
You visited me every night.
Before I even knew your name.
Beauty, with no name,
Holding, Sharon’s Rose,
With thorns,
Stabbing my heart with impossible memories,
Leaves me with nothing but pain,
A rose and my heart,
Makes me see a miracle,
So much beauty,
So many thorns,
So much pain,
I dream of touching you,
My Seoul every day.
Love and pain balance the scale with your beauty,
I turn out the lights,
My dreams of you brighten my days.
I know I will never touch you,
My heart beats with unimaginable pain,
I think of doing something crazy.
Flying on a silver winged Magpie,
I'm afraid my heart will burn to ashes,
To stop longing for you,
Today, I'm ready almost,
To take a chance,
Flying into to your arms,
Or standing at Heaven's gates!
What should I do?
Copyright © 2016 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Jun 23, 2016
Jun 23, 2016 at 2:38 PM UTC
it was
all too easy,
forgetting your name,
tasting the starlight tucked
behind someone else's
wisdom teeth,
our soju-laced smiles
crashing at 90mph
and the memory of you
caught
in the headlights and wreckage,
our 2am laughter
echoing in your bones
from 5654 miles away,
my hands knowing
the age-old roads
that led to brand new places,
and the faded map of you
folded and kept hastily
in my back pocket.
*(I was far too proud
to ask for directions
to come home)*
Jul 10, 2015
Jul 10, 2015 at 1:46 AM UTC
Dreaming a dream,
Flying across time and space, to a place I have never been,
Setting foot on the GROUND of the great mountain Bugaksan,
This MAN stands here on top of the world,
Oh! The wonders I see;
Such a peaceful place to be,
Cherry blossoms all around,
So sweet to see,
Winter has ended,
Shining towers growing out of the morning mist,
Reaching for HEAVEN through a yellow sky,
Sparkling lights,
You are a beautiful site to see,
Waking to the words,
“Welcome to Seoul ladies and gentlemen.
The local time is 5:45 in the Evening.”
You are truly not a myth to me anymore,
But my dream come true.
Copyright © 2015 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
May 16, 2015
May 16, 2015 at 8:49 PM UTC
In that place of dreams, where my hopes and fantasies lie,
You will always find my Spirit smiling,
Looking at the sky, where magpies soar high,
Lifted by a calm morning breeze,
Listening to the music of a busy city,
Listening to cars, trucks and buses of many colors,
As they pass by,
In that place of dreams, where my hopes and fantasies lie,
You will always find my Spirit wanting to, taste the food of
An Eastern city,
Ooh! I'm hungry for Kimbap, Kimchi, ooh! I've,
Always wanted to taste Egg Toast,
The aroma of coffee is heavenly,
In that place of dreams, where my hopes and fantasies lie,
I will meet my hungry Spirit in Seoul someday...
Copyright 2015 © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved
Mar 4, 2015
Mar 4, 2015 at 9:41 AM UTC
I am so old, As old as the Eastern sea,
My second Home Daehan Min-guk...You are
so far away in years and miles.
I try and try to learn to speak my ancestor's
tongue. I fail to hear you say, please come to me!
Why can't I just travel to meet my home,
Of my past. Where I belong!
Why was I cursed to be born?
In the wrong place and time.
I am so old, As old as the Eastern sea,
My broken heart
Is stopping me from
Holding you in my arms,
From touching you
From kissing you.
I am so old, As old as the Eastern sea,
My Korea!
Should I just die,
and hope!
My next life will bring me back home,
Back into your arms where I belong,
I miss you so much!
I would rather be a poor farmer,
In the land of Dae Han Min-guk....
Then a lonely old man in
Living in this land far to the West...
I dream of you every night,
I love you Korea...
Should I just take a chance
of flying to my home of my past.
Will it be worth being buried
at Yanghwajin,
Just, to see,
the face of my Seoul?
I am so old, as old as the Eastern sea,
My love Korea...
What should I do?
(c) 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 13, 2014
Dec 13, 2014 at 8:22 AM UTC
My home in my dreams,
I am amazed every night, when I see you in my dreams.
When I look at the moon., I see the tower to the north.
I can not believe you changed,
My life forever.
I only wish I can find the courage, to hold you in my arms at last.
My home in my dreams,
I wish I had met you a lifetime ago.
I wish I could give you one thousand of
my lifetimes.
I owe you my life,
My Seoul Korea.
I love you.
I miss you.
I owe you my life,
I owe you. You are the reason I am still alive,
Arirang, I owe you more than ever!
Seoul I love you,
A place I have only been to in my dreams,
How can I ever repay you?
For sending me such beautiful dreams.
I am amazed every night, when I see you in my dreams.
I live for you every day to hold you in my arms,
I live for you!
My Seoul,
I wish I could be standing in your arms where I belong.
My love Seoul,
I can't help but smile and wonder why God sent me here far to the West.
When you tell me every day, I belong in your arms.
But I owe you so much,
Hundreds of poems,
Hundreds of dreams
from a place, I have never been.
Amazing!
How can this be?
I love you Seoul Korea
that time can never take away.
I owe you more than my life
More than anything
I know this is a dept that I will never be able to repay.
Because I owe you so much
I owe you my life now, more than ever,
Why was I born so far away?
In the wrong time and wrong place?
Seoul Korea
My home in my dreams.
(C) 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 10, 2014
Dec 10, 2014 at 5:15 PM UTC
Sa-rang had always loved Seoul. Her dreams with crowds, around the Han River day and night. It was a place where she felt delighted and safe.
She was a popular, courageous, soju drinker with charming dark eyes and beautiful pink lips. Her friends saw her as a lovely, quiet hero. Once, she even gave a cup of milk to a lost kitten. That's the sort of woman she was.
Sa-rang walked over to the window and reflected on the colorful lights of her surroundings. The moon shined like a spotlight searching for someone.
Then she saw something in the distance. Or rather someone. It was the figure of Ron. He was a daring king from a far off land with blond hair and vast shoulders looking at the water.
Sa-rang gulped. She was not prepared for Ron.
As Sa-rang stepped outside, and Ron came closer, she could see the substantial glint in his blue eyes.
Ron gazed with the affection of 10,000 kittens. He said, in quiet tones, "I love you, and I want love."
Sa-rang looked back, even more surprised and still looking at the enchanted book. "Ron, please stay until the day I die," she replied.
They looked at each other with pleasant smiles. Feelings of love, like two teens, dancing at a very friendly K-POP Concert, which had piano music playing in the background and two admirable young women dancing to the beat.
Sa-rang regarded Ron's blond hair and vast shoulders. "I feel the same way!" revealed Sa-rang with a delighted grin.
Ron looked nervous, his emotions blushing like a red rose he wished he had.
Then Ron came inside for a nice drink of soju.
(C) 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 8, 2014
Dec 8, 2014 at 7:34 PM UTC
If I should Disappear,
Look far to the East.
You will see my spirit,
From a wondrous place.
A house full of glowing lights.
A place of delicious food.
The place where the young party!
All I see are green bottles of Soju.
Reality is a staircase leading nowhere.
Life, full of problems, is hard!
I work every day.
Korea is so far away!
My soul on fire and everlasting pain!
Korea someday!
Even if my ashes on a jet plane.
© 2013 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 8, 2014
Dec 8, 2014 at 7:41 AM UTC
Where dark and devastated loners,
Eat black painted noodles.
Sorry sad singles,
Lonely people!
Who dream of dark things, nightshade and purple;
Dressed in black,
Black nail polish,
Black accessories, black shoes.
Marking the time, but no looking back;
Drowning sorrows,
With little green bottles,
Never love a tear.
Kiss seldom, like a cold rainy holiday,
The small girl nowhere views the black dressed drunk in the mirror.
Missing love on this blackest of days...
© 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 5, 2014
Dec 5, 2014 at 3:19 PM UTC
Hope!
In the far off land of Dae-han-min-guk, on a brand new day.
An angel's fingers dance and prance on the ivories.,
So confident the way she plays.
Like magic! Sending the gift of music to me flying though time and space.,
The music flowed out of the piano like birds singing good morning new day,
Amazingly!
Thousands of piano notes,
Filled with elegance and charm travel to my ears.,
This angel sent to me a gift of hope today.,
I have never heard or seen such a wondrous thing,
I must be traveling through a beautiful dream...
© 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 5, 2014
Dec 5, 2014 at 3:13 PM UTC
I had to put my feelings into soulful words.
I really feel our connection is tightening.
You are my eternal sunshine.
You are the miracle on the Han River!
Especially for you I created this rhyme.
I would rather have you than a trillion billion won.
You are like a white tiger amidst ordinary cats.
You are cherry blossoms in the spring sun.
I am not sure you will like my poem.
But know. That I am completely overblown.
Seoul Korea, you mean so much to me.
I have been so far away.
In this lifetime, I am afraid I will never understand.
I never knew this could be.
“Loving a place, I have never been!”
I anxiously await our time ahead.
For now, I keep dreaming of you instead.
I hope we make it; I hope it will be fast.
Loneliness quickly really lies in the past!
This poem has come to an end.
See you soon, my dearest friend.
Hopefully before this life ends...
My Seoul, “The Miracle on the Han River!”
© 2013 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
-------------------------------
"The Universe is big. It's vast and complicated and ridiculous. And sometimes"very rarely impossible things just happen, and we call them miracles. And that's the theory. 900 years, never seen one yet. But this would do me." - Doctor Who Tv Series
Dec 4, 2014
Dec 4, 2014 at 7:24 PM UTC
I haven't been able to remember a dream about Korea in a while. However, this one came back with a vengeance.
Walking along the streets in Seoul Korea.
Not sure where. Maybe Itaewon because of all the young women I saw shopping and wearing black hip-hop caps.
If this wasn't odd enough. They were all wearing the exact same clothes.
As it turns out. I had woken up sitting on the sidewalk and stood up. I looked around and saw shops. All of the woman walking past me were wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) with a white blouse and pink skirt with pink and white roses in the middle of the blouse. They all had black caps that did not let me see their faces. The caps all had the word 'Boys' printed on them. As the woman walked past me, they would point their finger at me and laugh and say something that I did not understand.
I looked down to see If I was dressed or not. I was dressed in a suit and tie. I guess I thought I was naked.
The next thing I know. I'm being dragged inside a shop by two elderly women. One who looked like my mother and the other looked like my grandmother. Both are no longer with us. Yelling at me in the Korean language and pointing to a table with a hanbok outfit on it. There was an ocean blue shirt, purple pants, and slippers with a black robe.
They keep yelling at me and then start trying to undress me. The next thing I know. I'm wearing the hanbok outfit.
The two woman then show me to the door bowing, crying and saying
Congratulations on your marriage.
Copyright © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved
Dec 4, 2014
Dec 4, 2014 at 6:59 PM UTC
I am always asked,
“How can I love and write about a place that I have never been to,
Korea?”
Crazy, I know!
I like the romantic answer.
I lived and suffered in this place called Korea in a past life.
Or I will be born Korean in a hundred years.
In any case. This place called Korea,
Will always be in my dreams...
“Have you ever been lucky enough to figure out where your dreams come from? I have. I've written many poems about a place that I have only been to in my dreams. This beautiful place is called Korea.”
- Ronald J Chapman
“I'm in love with cities I've never been to and people I've never met.”
- John Green, “Paper Towns”
“Is it possible to miss a place you've never been? To mourn a time you never lived?”
- Jack Harper, “Oblivion”
Copyright © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved
Dec 4, 2014
Dec 4, 2014 at 6:44 PM UTC
National Liberation Day Of Korea
Freedom means August 15, 1945.
Koreans celebrate their day of liberation.
Freedom is like a Magpie,
Flying in the morning sky,
Above the ancient palaces of Seoul,
Freedom is like the Rose of Sharon,
Growing in "The land of morning calm."
Freedom is like a river named Han,
Unstoppable!
Freedom means flying the Taegeukgi.
Outside and high!
Freedom is Lively,
Freedom is President Moon Jae-in
President of South Korea,
Freedom is vibrant!
Freedom is festivals,
Freedom is unhindered!
Freedom is a Buddhist monk,
Everland!,
Freedom is unbound!
Freedom is tasty Kimchi,
Deoksugung Palace!
Freedom is lively parties,
Freedom is dancing,
The greatest Palaces of Seoul!
Freedom is treasured!
Freedom is a green bottle,
Soju!
Freedom is Arirang!
Korea's song,
A gift to the world from Korea,
Freedom is Queen Min; Still remembered,
Resting under a cherry blossom tree,
Freedom is Seoul!
A wonder to be seen on the Han River!
Freedom is luminous,
Busan Nightlife,
Changdeokgung Palace!
Freedom is unchained!
Freedom is sports,
Jeju-do!
Freedom is escape!
Freedom is honor!
Battle of Inchon!
Freedom is rising in the sky,
One of the most dynamic cities,
Seoul!
Freedom is no longer
Imprisoned,
Freedom is camping,
Freedom is priceless!
Freedom is one's honor!
Deoksugung Palace!
Freedom is treasured!
Freedom is the miracle,
Seoul!
Freedom is food,
Freedom is Kimchi,
Freedom is hopeful,
Freedom is Yu Gwan-sun!
Long live Korean independence!
Freedom is a Buddhist monk writing,
Freedom is thinking about your dreams,
Not looking behind your back!
Freedom is a child going to school,
Freedom is ultra-modern,
Seoul!
Freedom is escape!
Freedom is music,
K-POP!
Freedom is Arirang playing,
Freedom is essential,
White Day!
Freedom, people, shining in the sun,
Freedom is loved,
Yuna Kim!
Freedom is essential,
Freedom is "The March 1st Movement",
Yu Gwan-sun!
Freedom is shopping,
Freedom is walking our dogs,
Freedom is writing what you think,
Freedom is Sejong the Great!,
Hangul!
Freedom is bringing your dreams into the world,
Freedom is poetry,
Yun Dong-ju!
Freedom is traditions,
Freedom is wearing Hanbok.
Freedom is being empowered!
Freedom is.
Freedom is.
Freedom is.
A United Korea!!!
Copyright © 2013 - 2017 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 3, 2014
Dec 3, 2014 at 6:00 AM UTC
Fingers so beautiful and precious.
They are priceless!
Worth more than diamonds and gold.
Fingers float above a river of piano keys,
Fingers play music that sounds sweeter than bird's song.
Fingers so beautiful and precious.
They are priceless!
God sends His glory of song to these fingers.
Fingers play with much love and devotion for God,
Fingers battle summer's Cicada hum and afternoon fatigue.
Fingers so beautiful and precious.
They are priceless!
Worth more than diamonds and gold.
Fingers of mystery; which bring light, hope and peace to all.
Fingers accept the challenge of writing new song.
Fingers so beautiful and precious.
They are priceless!
Copyright © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 3, 2014
Dec 3, 2014 at 5:41 AM UTC
A dream is a sunny Korean Green Day.
Enduring loves, like a firm hand.
Singles like soju.
Where is the intense girl?
Crying tears quietly alone!
Drowning sorrows
With little green bottles,
Never love a tear.
Kiss seldom like a cold holiday.
The small girl nowhere views the drunk in the mirror.
Couples walk tender romantic, holding hands.
Adoring green clothes,
Trees rise.
Nature kisses like a boundless delicious boy.
Trees are eagerly awaiting a firm stunning, pure love!
The eager mountain patiently desires the girl and boy.
Kiss calmly like an enduring, unwavering blissful wind.
Couples fall roughly like a hot misty Korean day.
Ooh, love!
Copyright © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 3, 2014
Dec 3, 2014 at 5:31 AM UTC
Memories of my past continue to haunt me,
In my dreams every night.
Our spirits swore their faith for all ages.
Open gates let into our lives;
Loyalty,
Goodwill,
To Rule Solemnly,
Exalted Ceremonies,
Showing the Correct thing,
Wisdom.
Bright Light and,
Justice for all.
We only need to find the courage to
Walk through just one,
To make our dreams
Come true.
Copyright © Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 2, 2014
Dec 2, 2014 at 8:14 PM UTC
Each afternoon I look to the West
And try to see far to the East;
I am aware the day is dying,
I see the Sun bleeding red!
Sun is collapsing into death and darkness,
Into such a cold winter's blackness,
So lonely, I am missing you,
Impossible!
Suddenly I awake in a far away place,
So strange are my feelings for this place,
Feelings of love for a place I have never lived,
Impossible!
I see a tall spire reaching for the sky on a mountain,
I seem to recognize you, but you are not what I remember,
Now I see a Seoul Standing in front of the moon.
I bow to you.
You have grown into a beautiful place,
Impossible!
I still have memories of you from so long ago,
An Impossible dream or is it a dream come true?
© 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 1, 2014
Dec 1, 2014 at 11:45 AM UTC
You exist only in my dreams;
You surprised me last night,
As the morning came,
You quietly disappeared without a word,
Leaving behind;
My memories,
My thoughts of you,
You only live;
In my dreams,
In my heart,
And in my memories,
You only exist,
Deep in my dreams,
Still, I remember,
We walked side by side
Together, in the ancient city of Seoul;
A city so far away from here,
So very long ago,
It only took;
One look,
One smile,
One wink,
For our souls to touch,
And say, “You are very precious to me.”
Although, you only live;
Deep in my dreams,
In my heart,
And in my memories,
My beautiful Korean princess,
I write these,
Poems for you,
Why do we only meet in dreams?
Are we destined,
To meet in this world some day?
Although, you only live;
In my dreams,
In my heart,
And in my memories,
My beautiful Korean princess,
I write these poems for you,
Still, you only live;
In my dreams,
In my heart and,
In my memories,
Why do we only,
Meet in dreams,
Of the past?
© 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Dec 1, 2014
Dec 1, 2014 at 11:19 AM UTC
Hello, old Friend
I've been here before;
In my memories,
In my dreams,
I've seen you before,
In your dark eyes, I see reflections of my soul,
Is this a dream again?
I'm finally standing here with you, where I belong,
Looking at the bright lights of Korea's Seoul,
I've been waiting so long,
Am I finally here?
I'm not afraid anymore,
I'm with my old friend,
Exploring Korea's Seoul,
Wondering what we should do next,
Am I finally home where I belong?
© 2014 Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Nov 29, 2014
Nov 29, 2014 at 2:03 PM UTC
천만에요
I will never ask for a 'Thank You.'
Even in thousands or tens of thousands of times like this,
You do not have to say, 'Thank You' to me.
In the moonless darkness of words, the dreamers seek.
Beyond this moment of longing the song writers rejoice!
Even in thousands or tens of thousands of times like this.
I will never ask for a 'Thank You.'
This Miracle the cold Bukhan Mountain of this beautiful,
Seoul. The children seek to climb.
On the cold mountains of this miracle the old ones dream.
Even in thousands or tens of thousands of times like this.
You do not have to say, 'Thank You' to me.
No truth ever spoken was truer than this.
Write your words of wisdom in song on the bathroom wall.
Looking for any sign of shelter.
This wisdom carved in to a brick of white and silver.
Even in thousands or tens of thousands of times like this.
I will never ask for 'Thank You' to be said.
© Ronald J Chapman All Rights Reserved.
Nov 29, 2014
Nov 29, 2014 at 1:51 PM UTC