The Flower
Only on the way down did I see it—
the flower I had missed on the way up.
These are the lines from The Flower, a poem by the renowned Korean poet Ko Un.
It is a poem of only two lines, yet few poems leave such a profound and lingering resonance.
Throughout our lives, we tend to keep our eyes fixed on the ascent. We strive for higher positions, greater success, and larger accomplishments. Breathlessly, we climb upward, always chasing the summit. And in our determination to reach the top, we often fail to notice the beautiful flowers blooming quietly at our feet.
That flower may be the warm gaze of a family member, the steadfast friendship of someone who has walked beside us through the years, or the simple blessing of an ordinary day that slips unnoticed through our busy lives.
Yet it is the nature of life that whatever rises must eventually descend.
No life is an endless uphill journey, and no summit is a place where one can remain forever. The path downward is not necessarily a road of failure or retreat. More often, it is the path of reflection and understanding. It is the season in which we finally pause, look around, and begin to comprehend the deeper meaning of life.
Things that escaped our notice during the hurried climb gradually come into view on the way down: a small act of kindness, a regret that arrived too late, people who were precious to us, and moments that, once gone, will never return.
Perhaps the truest flowers of life do not bloom at the summit after all. Perhaps they are the wildflowers hidden along the descending path, quietly waiting to be discovered.
Today, we continue our climb. Yet it may be worth asking ourselves what flowers we might encounter one day on the journey back down.
- From Dawn Light Notes by Ki Jun Kwon -
Reflection of the Day
★ We spend much of our lives striving to climb higher and possess more. Yet the truest flower of life may not be waiting at the peak. It may be here, in this very moment—or perhaps along the road descending from the heights, patiently waiting for us to finally notice it. ★
[Go back to Korean version] 한국어
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