Sher Poetry

2 responses to ““Sudong’s Swallows” by Ko Un read by Sher Schwartz”

1. 

   tlapera5411

   February 26, 2025 at 7:33 am

   The context you provide for these poems is so helpful and interesting. I appreciate understanding the Buddhist concepts here. One line that stands out for me from the poem is how Sudong “matures in his loneliness.” I’m interested in your thoughts on that one particular line.

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   1. 

      Sher Schwartz

      February 28, 2025 at 7:58 am

      Hello and thank you for your follow up question. From a Buddhist perspective, I believe this line “matures into loneliness” expresses maturity as being okay with what is. The speaker is at ease with the swallows coming early, the swallows arriving late, the swallows arriving in greater numbers or in lesser numbers. The speaker is at ease with how things are instead of wishing the swallows would be like this or that–the speaker rests in the way it is without wishing for more or without pushing things away. That, I believe is the maturity Ko Un references with this line “matures in his loneliness.” He has named the swallows, but he also rests as he says goodbye when they leave — he’s at ease alone and he is at ease when he’s surrounded by his little cheerful friends. I hope that helps–this is my sense of how the line is working.

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