Poetess Ms. Yang Geum-Hee has published four poetry collections and has won eight literary awards. She has published poetry collections such as Happiness Account, Ieodo: The Island of Legend and Reality, Nests of Birds (published in Taiwan), and Nests of Birds(English-Korean poetry book). Additionally, she has written the research book Inheritance of Ieodo Culture and the essay collection A Happy Companion on the Journey. In recognition of her extensive international literary contributions, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Forum for Creativity and Humanity (President Dr. Aziz Mountassir) in the Kingdom of Morocco in March 2025. She was the founding President of the Ieodo Literature Association, editor-in-chief of Jejuin News, a researcher at the Jeju Sea Grant Center, a specially appointed professor at Jeju International University, and the 2nd President of the Korean Association of World Literature. Currently, she serves as an editorial writer for Samda Ilbo, President of Jeju PEN, and Vice President of the Korean Peace Cooperation. Her poetry has been translated and introduced in various countries, including USA, China, Russia, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Greece, Belgium, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kosovo, Albania, Vietnam, Mexico, South America, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The Light That Illuminates the World
When darkness falls and shadows grow,
the light may fade or fiercely glow.
At the edge where dark meets bright,
when the flame is lost to sight,
we close our eyes and pray for light.
The light that shines will chase the night,
turning gloom to colors bright.
Leaves that dance in golden rays
are born from night’s departed haze.
From ancient ice to cosmic streams,
it lingers deep in endless dreams.
Beyond despair, where hope stands tall,
a blazing flame will never fall.
It glows where freedom knows no end,
where right and wrong may twist and bend.
Though its source remains unknown,
within the truth its glow has grown.
And through the ages, bold and free,
it shines for all eternity.
The Power Within Me
In the world I live and see,
my childhood lingers, wild and free,
teaching strength from mountains high,
waves that dance and touch the sky,
and flowers blooming gracefully.
Though winds may try to tear apart
the dreams once planted in my heart,
a rainbow forms, a bridge so wide,
where hope and wings grow strong inside.
And so, my dreams rise tall and bright,
bathed in youth’s enduring light.
Now upon these roots I stand,
ready to soar, to take command.
Within my soul, so fierce, so true,
the mountains call, the waves break through,
the flowers shine in golden hue.
They whisper soft, they sing, they cheer,
“Move ahead—there’s nothing to fear!”
The Wind and Water Do Not Fight
No matter how deep the scars may be,
the wind and water still stay free.
They hold no grudge, they bear no spite,
revenge is never in their sight.
With lips, they’d never curse or cry,
with strength, they’d simply drift on by.
When met with walls both rough and tall,
they glide with grace, they do not stall.
They do not fight, they do not stay,
they bow, they turn, then slip away.
No path too twisted, none too tight,
the wind won’t ask, the waves take flight.
Through day and night, through dark and bright,
they find their way, no need for sight.
The Seed of Poetry
Poetry is a tiny seed,
waiting for the light it needs.
It sprouts where hearts and eyes embrace,
in joy, in love, in time and space.
Where will you plant it? Where will it grow?
The moment you choose, its roots will show.
Like cacti bloom in desert air,
poetry thrives everywhere.
A feather-light and fleeting thing,
it rides the wind on gentle wing.
Yet even in the smallest sand,
it finds a place to take a stand.
Close your eyes, breathe in deep,
let its whispers softly creep.
In the garden of your soul,
watch it flourish, bright and whole.
The power is yours, the choice is clear,
just plant the seed, and words appear.
The Radiant Star of Taiwan, Lee Kuei-Shien
The star of Taiwan that once shone on earth
Can now be seen from anywhere.
Becoming an eternal light in the sky,
It watches over us forevermore.
Though our meeting was brief,
It felt like the bond of a lifelong friend.
His clear gaze, his warm touch—
Etched deeply in my heart.
The noble poet has ascended,
Shining the sacred light of poetry.
Following the path he left behind,
We, too, shall walk together.
The tree of poetic life grows,
Drinking from the waters of the Tamsui River,
Blooming once more in radiant beauty.
That ever-flowing stream shall never run dry,
And in my heart, it shall flow eternally.
The Path of Peace
As light shines brighter in the darkest night,
May peace break through with gentle might,
Seeping through Gaza’s cracks of despair,
A beacon of hope in the heavy air.
Just as starlight travels from afar,
Reaching us from a distant star,
May peace ignite a flame so bright,
A lighthouse glowing through the night.
Follow its glow, O hearts in pain,
Though you wander, though you strain,
Even if your path seems dim,
The way of peace will call you in.
A Prayer for Peace
Let hearts that burn with deep disdain,
Flow into waters that soothe the pain,
And form as drops that gently blend,
To forge a path where peace won’t end,
So sons and daughters, free from strife,
May live in Gaza, full of life.
Let war’s desire drift away,
Flow into waters that calm the fray,
And may the warmth of peace extend,
To touch all lands and gently mend.
We pray for sunlight’s healing grace,
To spread the fragrance of peace in space,
And bind us close, all hate undone,
Together, breathing as if one.
Let war’s intent now lose its hold,
Flow into waters calm and cold,
Light the torch that never dies,
With hearts as one, we rise and rise,
To greet the dawn, so bright and new,
A world reborn in peaceful hue.
My Love, Danshui River
When the rain falls outside my pane,
the warm breath of the Danshui’s vein embraces me,
its pulse so near.
“Don’t forget me,
remember me,”
the river whispers soft and clear,
as our brief memories arise,
spreading whispers through the tides.
That whisper turns to river’s tongue,
cutting currents, swiftly sprung,
sending a boat of longing, true,
to flow across the waves to you.
Though distance keeps us far apart,
each morning brings you to my heart.
I close my eyes, and feel the stream,
its heated pulse, a vivid dream,
deep inside, your breath remains,
coursing through my waiting veins.
The warm gaze of the Danshui’s glow,
seen from my hotel window low,
set my heart ablaze that night—
how could I ever dim that light?
The river whispered sweet and slow,
“Don’t forget me,
let me flow.”
Those tender words, the reddening dusk,
the murmur of the river’s musk,
color my heart like twilight’s gleam,
its current wide, a flowing theme.
When rain falls down from skies above,
I fall once more, deep into love.
Becoming raindrops, joining streams,
we flow together in endless dreams,
forever bound by water’s song,
together drifting, where we belong.
Danshui River and the Poet’s Path
At the Formosa Poetry Festival,
I first encountered the Danshui River’s swell.
With several Taiwanese poets near,
singing of the river crystal clear,
our meeting felt like one I knew so well.
In the gentle ripples flowing by,
I sensed a noble dignity high,
sparkling like starlight in the night!
Though the cheek I touched was cold and pale,
its heartbeat told a warmer tale,
embracing joy and sorrow’s flight.
Countless waves of life now sleep,
flowing as calm waters, deep,
accepting even a stranger’s hand.
Surely, storms have come and gone,
leaving the river to carry on,
finding peace upon the land.
Each surge has carved its rugged trace,
trials shaped the river’s grace,
until its stream was still and slow.
On your wrinkled brow, I see,
and in your fingers’ joints, the plea,
etched by years that come and go.
Like verses on the poet’s path,
recalling times of love and sweet,
becoming waves that always flow,
even when we’ve traveled far,
your words will shine like a distant star,
serenely onward you will go.
Peace Is in your mind
Peace in all hearts,
Like snow falling from the sky,
Covers mind of all people,
Making the world beautiful.
Why do some hold guns,
And express their anger?
I wish peace would cover the world,
Like snow.
Peace is everywhere,
In the sky and on the ground,
In flowers and trees,
And in our hearts.
