Source of Hate

Hate, You came to me When I was a child I don’t want you to Be near me Ever again It was during WW2 Japan ruled Koreans obeyed One day Mother came home With tears in her eyes Her voice filled with bitterness A Japanese soldier kicker her With his heavy boots In a busy street Where everyone was watching Watching her bruised knees Discolored shins I felt hatred filling my entire being Spreading like a wild fire Not only against the soldier But against all Japanese I was a seven year old boy then Late in life I realized: This must be how we learn to hate A person and a nation If unchecked, the hate will grow Like wild fire Spreading all over Mother taught me to love She said love was like Spring sunshine Helping people to get out Of their cocoons And mingling with others As brothers and sisters But how can I love Instead of hate? I did not tell myself to hate It happened without trying When I saw Mother’s bruised knees Ugly face of hate filling my entire being With the red banner of death Coaxing me to revenge Can I shove this hate In the chamber of my will power? Or Will it explode with mighty fury? Or should I pray to God to diffuse it?