Gwangju Writes: Poetry

my reading experience. Having never read the source material, I have likewise never viewed any movie or TV adaptation of Little Women.

But I am now quite prepared and excited to see Greta Gerwig’s latest offering. The beauty of artistic license is taking a beloved narrative, shaking it down to its bones, and rebuilding it to speak more clearly to present or future generations. Hopefully this adaptation can reinforce and inspire the latent greatness in today’s “little women.”

The Reviewer

Kristy Dolson lived in South Korea for five years before taking a year off to travel, read, and spend time with her family in Canada and Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Education and now lives in Yeosu, where she splits her time between teaching at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and reading as much as she can. (Photo by Cheyenne Taylor).

Travelogues

Written by Kevin D’Abramo

Finally, I’ve reached New York where swarms are thicker than Paris and while every door exudes jazz the Manhattan stride invades my marrow waking a moment of hope, while caffeine-high in a café as your eyes gleam like waves splashing Vancouver.

Over mountains, through mist, then wing down in Vancouver where nude bodies gleam and don’t dream of the rats of New York here they hear birds chirp in their cafes which are appointed with big cowboy bars, absolument pas Paris. And oh how the sun and glistening waves sink into my marrow while on Sundays I can relax and sip jazz.

In Paris I tramp past palaces seeking jazz winter here’s a sprinkler, and like the grey moods of Vancouver but this drizzle won’t soak my marrow and I won’t bellow like the old urchins of New York perhaps I’ll bloom, like Hemingway did drinking Pernod, inscribing my blood in the ether of cafes.

The Author Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Kevin D’Abramo studied English literature and creative writing in university. He came to South Korea to teach English after completing a PhD at the University of Montreal, which focused on postmodern treatments of proletarian fiction. Besides creative writing, he enjoys playing bass guitar and traveling.

Our Hashima

Written and photographed by Kevin D’Abramo

I’m a little worried though, says my beloved she crosses her legs and furrows her brow. They might not mention the Korean conscripts she says, nor the Chinese prisoners of war.

Momentary silence, but she knows the photos have enthralled me. My curiosity now protean –typical expat, I’m drawn to Hashima the sublime historical freak show proving just too enticing.

We flip up our hoods, hold hands she forces a smile into the wretched wind hundred or so passengers don plastic ponchos the captain thrusts us into the roiling sea.

Then through the window Hashima appears framed by grey clouds and frothing waves blackish and scarred it sits high on a hill, like a castle though only abandoned some forty years ago.

Our boat approaches the chipped and splotchy sea wall the motor revs and the water churns, like a school of piranha attacking. White knuckles clutch the gangplank’s swaying chain railing. Earphones sputter the English translation as the tour guide shouts above the ear-strafing wind behind her is a former school. Next to the school an apartment block looms ten stories high, the windows devoid of glass, like gaunt eyes.

Harried and battered by wind the tour guide might be skipping information allowing history to leak between the cracks my beloved’s face frowns.

A belly of blackish cloud hangs low a gust of wind blows the guide’s cap clean off, it flies like a baby ghost and whips back into the roped-off ruins.

Near the end of the talk she mentions the Koreans and Chinese they worked and lived here too, she states and suffered hardships.

An afterthought perhaps, but something. Ponchos flutter, the wind now stronger. Rain pelts my back as the group heads back to the boat.

I turn back to view the guide’s helper hop the rope fence, dash after the cap and scuttle beyond a wall of ruins as the wind wails.

Gwangju Happenings March 2020

Compiled by Melline Galani

ACC BACKSTAGE TOUR ACC 백스테이지 투어

t January 8 – March 27(Wednesdays & Fridays at 4:00 p.m. P Munhwa-jeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju ￦ Free À 1899-5566 ` https://www.acc.go.kr/en/calendar/ monthly/list

CULTURE ADVENTURE 어린이체험관

t January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Wed. & Sat. to 7 p.m.) P 38 Munhwa-jeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju (ACC Children B1) ￦ Ages 4–13: KRW 5,000 / Ages 14 and older: KRW 3,000 À 1899-5566 ` https://new.acc.go.kr/en/exhibition. do? PID=0202&action=Read&bnkey= EM_0000003831

KBC MOM & BABY FAIR 제29회 KBC 맘앤베이비페어 t March 12–15 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) P 30 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju (Kim Daejung Convention Center, Exhibition Hall 2) ￦ Free À 062-650-3374 ` www.kbcbaby.co.kr

MARCH’S GOT JANG HANDMADE FAIR 3월 곳장 라이프 페어

t March 13–14 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) P 30 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju (Kim Daejung Convention Center, Exhibition Hall 3) ￦ Free ` @gotgan_jangteo

SOUTH JEOLLA HAPPENINGS

GURYE ASIATIC CORNELIAN CHERRY FESTIVAL 구례산수유꽃축제 2020 t March 14–22 P 45 Sanggwan 1-gil, Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun, South Jeolla

전라남도 구례군 산동면 상관1길 45 ￦ Free À 061- 780-2726 ~7 ` http://www.gurye.go.kr/sanflower

GWANGYANG PLUM BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (MAEHWA FESTIVAL) 제22회 광양매화축제 2020 t March 6–15 P 55 Jimak 1-gil, Daap-myeon, Gwangyang, South Jeolla (Samjin River Maehwa Village)

전라남도 광양시 다압면 지막1길 55, 섬진강 매화마을 일원 ￦ Free À 061-797-261 ` http://www.gwangyang.go.kr/tour_culture/ index.gwangyang?menuCd=DOM_00000040 3001001001&&cpath=%2Ftour_culture

HAENAM PLUM BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 제8회 땅끝 매화축제 t March 7–15 P 56-10 Yejeong-ri, Sani-myeon, Haenam, South Jeolla (Bohae Plum Farm)

전라남도 해남,산이면 예정리 56-10 (보해매실농원) ￦ Free À 061-530-5917 ` http://www.haenam.go.kr