Sura, the Tidal Flat
By Choe Kyu Hong
Sura—a village embroidered like fine silk,
The last remaining tidal flat of Saemangeum.
Sura—a sanctuary for migratory birds,
A sacred ecological realm
That should brim with life.
Sura stands
In the midst of unending struggle,
Caught in the clash of development and preservation,
Gasping for breath.
Sura—the final life-sustaining ground of Saemangeum,
A promised land in need of a grand transformation
Through the flow of seawater,
A foundation for future generations.
