Horseback

by Hwi-Jong Ryu (April 2025)

Two Horses Fighting in a Stormy Landscape (Eugène Delacroix, 1828)

Would you believe me if I told you
that together I can hear the earth drum?
For you it must be footsteps.

Would you believe me if I told you
that the sunlight comes through crystal?
For you it must be paper.

Would you believe me if I told you
that the sound is but a man’s cry?
For you it must be cannons.

Would you believe me if I told you
that the pain comes only from a boy’s heel?
For you it must be knives.

Would you believe me if I told you
that the wind bows before your strides?
For you it must be a gentle breeze.

Would I believe you if you told me
that you were listening?
And yet you seem still—still as the plain where your kind once roamed.

 

Table of Contents

 

Hwi-Jong Ryu is a student in South Korea who writes poetry and fiction exploring movement, memory, and identity. He also plays the double bass and enjoys long-distance running, both of which inform his writing. He is currently preparing his writing portfolio for university.

Follow NER on Twitter @NERIconoclast

image_pdfimage_print

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New English Review Press is a priceless cultural institution.
                              — Bruce Bawer

A history lover’s dream. Pre-order on Amazon US, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold. 

Pre-order on Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold. 

The perfect gift for the history lover in your life. Order on Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Send this to a friend