My Omma’s Shame by Bo Schwabacher

Born in another city,
I left her peninsula,

my birthmother
didn’t care

for her body—
by the water,

we’re talking
the same language,

my omma
and me, 새 (sae)

is “bird.” Is it true
that 흔들리는 상

(heundeullineun sang)
is “shimmer”? Naturally

stunning, how free we
could feel. I have

my obsession
in my blood. Going

unnoticed by
the Hangang Bridge

한강대교,
I’ve got the skin

of a poor peasant.
Unable to fix

familiar people,
I return my adoptive

father’s wedding
band to be melted

down and gone. Lighter
in my spirit, the debt

has been paid.