Fallen Leaves

One autumn day, Seol-chong sweeping the garden
said to Ven, Won-hyo,
"Venerable, I cleared away the fallen leaves."

Ven. Won-hyo silently picked up a handful of the leaves.
Then, strewing them on the garden, he said,
"This is the way autumn is."

Aren't we pursuing perfection too much,
missing contentment in life as it is?

An Byeong-hyeon, Office Worker
Translated by Kim Sun-ae