When on 16 April 2014 Sewol, the South Korean boat,

Was sinking with 476 passengers on board

Frigid water filling up its hold

And the crew with its captain fled

Betraying all the hopes of the passengers

There appeared a courageous woman head

Rising to the occasion, raring to go ahead;

22 year old young Park Ji-young, a cafe worker

Took the lead in helping children and half-dead sea farers

Supplying them with life jackets, courage and burning hope

Keeping not a single jacket for her to elope

Promising not to leave till a single of them remained.

Many were saved but she was drowned.

Among the dead by the divers her body was found,

Buried in chill watery ground.

A savior of mankind, entirely humane

Igniter of the sacrificial fire

With the fire glowing within her;

Inspired by the Divine will and bliss

She lives in man’s heart for her selfless sacrifice.

© Aju Mukhopadhyay, 2014