The Family of Glass Frogs

Looking at a glass frog with transparent skin,

I felt quite akin to it.

A glass frog that had eaten stolen food...

The Family of Glass Frogs

Poem by Lee Yongha

Looking at a glass frog with transparent skin, I felt quite akin to it.

A glass frog that had eaten stolen food,

Was sitting there, revealing a naked inside,

Feigning innocence.

After I was detected cheating her several times,

My wife said I had a murky inside.

Though I can't mention it at home,

My wife too looks sly at times.

Our child who goes to the kindergarten

Has started learning to tell lies.

Ours is a family of glass frogs.

But this is a first-class secret.

We change our skin color

When we meet other people.

(Translated by Ko Chang Soo)

---

(original)

유리개구리 가족

이용하

 

피부색이 투명한 유리개구리를 보고
아주 동질감을 느꼈다
먹이를 훔쳐 먹은 유리개구리가
발가벗은 속을 다 내놓은 채
시치미떼고 앉아있었다

몇 번 속이다가 걸린 후
아내는 내게 속이 시커멓다고 한다
집에서 말은 못하지만
아내도 꽤 의뭉스러울 때가 있다
유치원에 다니는 아이는 벌써
거짓말을 배우기 시작했다

우리는 유리개구리 가족이다
하지만 이건 일급비밀이다

다른 사람들을 만날 때는
피부색을 바꾼다.

---

© 2026 Lee Yongha. All rights reserved. Original Korean poem: 유리개구리 가족 (The Family of Glass Frogs) by Poet Lee Yongha (이용하). Translated by Ko Chang Soo. Digital illustration created in collaboration with Gemini AI.