Recommended by School Librarian Conference

Recommended by Korean School Librarian Association

An early morning walk along the trail in the woods awakens a wish for eternity

The cold, crisp air of dawn tickles the tip of my nose. The blue light of the dawn still has a tint of darkness, and it is scented with the smell of India ink. The scent is flowing from the painting that Daddy has painted through the previous night. I slowly get out of bed and go out to take a walk in the woods at dawn. I am with my daddy, and we are on our way to fetch water in the woods like we always do. Every time I take a step, I can feel the soft breeze at the tip of my feet, and I also keep sight of cranes beating their wings in my mind. We are walking the “trail” that will make its way onto blank paper someday. Each time we take a step, we declutter our minds, and the world we can see and feel keeps growing bigger and bigger, until Daddy creates the painting of the ten symbols of longevity that enfolds our ancestors' desire for eternity.