My mother has always been a poet. Constantly scribbling, yet unable to spread her wings most of her life due to life’s obligations. I’d love to introduce you to one of her creations here. I only hope I was able to do justice in translating it.
비내리는 날의 일기 ㅡ 소귀골(牛耳洞)을 걸으며…
– 수목원
옛목간통으로 가는
골목길은
멀고도 가깝다는
표현이 맞겠습니다
돌아오는 소귀골
(牛耳洞)엔
장맛비가 억수로
골목 어귀를 채우고,
비에 젖어 즐거운 듯
가지를 흔들어대던
굵은둥치 호두나무가
나를 보고 반가워
가을을 기다린다고
얘기를 나누잡니다.
나의 로망은
기다리는 작은 기쁨,
기다리고 있는 소망,
가을 기다림으로 해
여름더위를 이겨내는
작은 열매를 보는 거,
그렇게 소소해서도
마음이 충만해짐을
갖는 순간입니다..
Diary on a rainy day – Walking Soguigol street
– Soo Mok Won
So close yet so far
Is how I would describe the twisted backstreets
that leads to the old bath house
As I walk through Soguigol street,
torrential rain fills the mouth of its alley
The thick old walnut tree waves its arms
with the joy of soaking summer rain
It is delighted to see me
And urges me to chat about the coming of the fall
My inner romance is in
A tiny joy of waiting
A tiny hope of longing
And seeing the tiny seed of overcoming the summer heat
Through waiting for the fallAlthough perhaps it might be trifling,
The moment fills my heart with fullness.
Korean Snippets 