I met this young man on the plane
A Korean by birth
But American in the main
We spoke a lot
Of everything
And spoke of Korea
Which eased my pain
And if you could meet him
I think to you, I would seem more sane
He said the children of preachers here
To him it seemed were a little but queer
Or did he say they were strange?
Thinking of you, I saw his view
But you’re wonderful
So this gave me pain
Yet it showed me recognition,
It showed me vindication,
It showed me echoed opinion,
And sympatico in frustration
Still it showed me what was plain
It told me that I’m not alone
In sensing your hidden stresses at home
And then he said they want control
And who could blame them,
Who learn that roll?
In Korea he worked
At no school
That treated foreigners by The Rule,
So I thought of you
And how you might think
If you heard him that
I am no fool
Koreans, he said, can’t do it alone
Abused by Japan and China old
He said She’s young
She needs some time;
And those who don’t leave can’t see our mind
He said he could never marry a girl; a girl from Korea, not of the world
So I lamented
As he spoke
‘Clearly he’s smart and honest folk’
And in the end he’d said what they’ve said,
When we come so far;
When we come from the West
We suffer culture shock and stress
He’s had too much
Too well digest
So he needs a break
To see
He needs to see
Like me and you
Like me
37.263573
127.028601
Tell a Friend Who Could Learn with Carl!
Published by
Carl Atteniese / 亜天二恵世万慈道
Thank you for reading. I hope this finds you exceedingly well.
I was born in Brooklyn, in the middle of the NASA Gemini space Program era--which was on course for the Apollo program, aiming to land men on the moon. I watched Neil Armstrong make humanity's first step on the lunar surface. The space program left a lasting effect on me and inspired life-long interest and passion in me.
I was born a little more than 2 years after President John Kennedy was assassinated and a few years before Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was a time of tumult, but better manners, a gentler approach to one another (despite the prejudice being worked on by progressives-) little political correctness, no cancel culture and thicker skin & more opportunity for laughs, a time of fantastic television, austere and fact-based news delivered with brevity and sobriety and much superlatively stylish design. It was the beginning of Star Trek, Star Wars, and a few years on, personal computers, digital watches, hand-held electronic games and movies were still in theaters--not on our TVs--unless they were a little old. People paid more attention to books, from where trust is built with credibility we intrinsically see, competency earned and reflected and facts & expertise. One reason I am not apt to dabble in irrational conspiracy theories is I made many a trek to the local library, to read about stars, planets and astronauts, and to the local bookstore--no longer there--to find my favorite science fiction novels--to either read, or simply marvel at their covers, by Boris Valejo and Frank Frazetta--inspirations that would fuel my later entry into the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
I grew up in Long Island, worked and was educated there until I discovered New York City, then it was on to Boulder Colorado, The Mojave Desert, South Korea and now Japan. I have visited Mongolia, the Philippines, and England and hope to see the rest of the world--and maybe even beyond it.
I teach English as a Second Language, practice secular Buddhism and pay attention to philosophy, astronomy, spaceflight, aviation and human & species rights. I make art, poems and photography--and real friends, wherever I go--when I can.
Maybe our paths will cross; until then, enjoy my writing and pictures, and send me a note. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee someday, somewhere.
Thank you for reading.
I wish you love, peace, joy and enlightenment--sincerely--because you are sentient, and you suffer, too.
Carl Atteniese
Tokyo
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