Tenants
Elane K.
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By acting in conversation with traditional Korean folklore, "Tenants" is a poem that highlights modern Asian and Asian American voices during a time of social unrest while examining mythos as a landmark for memory. I was especially encouraged to translate and honor the stories of Asian immigrant elders following the terrible trend of anti-Asian hate crimes that plagued my local community. In general, I am fascinated by the nature of mythology: the ability of myths to miraculously survive the test of time, continually evolving to serve the needs of their respective generations. As such, "Tenants" is a poem that connects Tangun, a Korean creation myth, with a modern-day interpretation of what it means to exercise pride in your identity—of what it means to love and be loved by the country you call home.
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As a writer, I am interested in telling the stories often left unheard, the stories that we experience collectively that stay with us individually. As a result, I firmly believe that literature can serve as a mode of human connection.
