ᄀ is for 기억 which means “memory”
ᄂ is for 나라 the word for “country”
ᄃ is for 다 which means “all”
ᄅ is for 룡 the “dragon” who protects
ᄆ is for 마음 “our heart” and “our soul”
ᄇ is for 바람 “wants” and “desires”
ᄉ is for 삶 which means “life”
ᄋ is for 융합 or “harmony” or “fusion”
ᄌ is for 정 so we feel attached to one another
ᄎ is for 참 “the ultimate truth”
ᄏ is for 칼 a “knife” that cuts and divides
ᄐ is for 틈 an “opportunity” or “rift”
ᄑ is for 피 meaning the “blood” in our veins
ᄒ is for 하나 as in “may we become one”
𐫱
Listen
Born in Korea and raised in East Africa, Melanie Hyo-In Han recently moved from the U.S. to the U.K. She is the author of My Dear Yeast (Milk & Cake Press, 2023) and Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021). Learn more about her at melaniehan.com.
About the Poem
“The idea for “Learning the 가나다s” emerged from my reflections on the power of language to connect and protect. Growing up bilingual, I experienced Korean as both a means of communication and a deep tie to my heritage. In this poem, I used the Korean alphabet (hangul) as a way to explore themes of memory, belonging, and unity. Each letter serves as a symbol for something larger – ideas like remembrance, life, truth, and harmony that resonate within diasporic experiences.
I chose to write this as an abecedarian because learning one’s language can often be the first step in reclaiming identity. The 가나다s represent not only linguistic knowledge but the cultural memories and emotional truths passed down through generations. The poem became my own version of a protection spell, a wish for healing and resilience within the collective experience of displacement. I aimed to convey how language can both reflect and create the bonds that sustain us, even in the face of separation and trauma.
The poem weaves the foundational sounds of the Korean language into a larger narrative of connection, protection, and hope. It invokes not only the tangible elements of culture but also the invisible ties that hold us together – our shared memories, desires, and hearts. Through this, I hoped to craft something deeply personal yet universally resonant, embodying the collective power of words to shield and unite us in difficult times.”