'Do Jong Hwan' poem "Swinging Flower"

흔들리며 피는 꽃
도종환

흔들리지 않고 피는 꽃이 어디 있으랴
이 세상 그 어떤 아름다운 꽃들도
다 흔들리면서 피었나니
흔들리면서 줄기를 곧게 세웠나니
흔들리지 않고 가는 사랑이 어디 있으랴

젖지 않고 피는 꽃이 어디 있으랴
이 세상 그 어떤 빛나는 꽃들도
다 젖으며 젖으며 피었나니
바람과 비에 젖으며 꽃잎 따뜻하게 피웠나니
젖지 않고 가는 삶이 어디 있으랴


Swinging Flower
Do Jong Hwan

No flower blooms without swinging
All of the beautiful flowers on the Earth
Blooms through out swinging
As swinging they set up the cane
No love blooms without swinging

No flower blooms without soaking
All of the shining flowers on the Earth
Blooms through out soaking
As getting wet they blooms warmly
No life blooms without soaking

바리데기 황석영 지음

1. 너무 재미있어서 3일만에 단숨에 읽어내린 책 이었다. 우리의 고전 '바리데기'를 근현대사 역사를 배경으로하여 각색화한 작품이었다. 이 작품의 주인공의 이름 또한 '바리'로 7번째 딸로 버려졌다 살아난다. 바리공주와 마찬가지로 살면서 우여곡절을 겪게되는 바리는 하머니의 영향으로 '샤먼'의 능력을 지니고있다. 사람의 과거를 들여다보지를 않나, 이승과 저승을 넘나들기도 한다. 이런 설정들이 소설에 신비감을 불어 넣어주는 것 같다.

2. 바리는 북한에서 태어나 중국을 거쳐 런던으로 건너가 파키스탄 남자와 결혼한다. 샹 언니, 뱃사람들과 같이 바리에게 고통을 가져다 주는 사람도 있지만, 루 아저씨, 탄 아저씨처럼 도움을 주는 고마운 사람들 또한 만난다. 바리의 인생을 보면서 삶, 인생을 이해하게 된 것 같다. 노래가사처럼, 오르막길이 있으면 내리막길도 있는 법이다. 중국으로 건너가는 과정은 고됬지만, 중국에서 성공을 했고 런던으로 건너가며 또 죽을 고비에 놓였으나 압둘할아버지,알란을 만나 새 보금자리를 차린다. 내가 좋아하는 시의 구절 처럼, 흔들리지 않고 피는 꽃은 없다. 나에게도 힘든 순간이 찾아왔을 떄, 바리처럼 이를 악물고 꿋꿋하게 버티고 싶다.

3. 그럼에도 불구하고 '바리데기' 원작과는 많은 차이가 있다. 바리 또한 바리 공주처럼 떡과 거울을 들고 저승 세계를 넘었지만, 아들, 딸 낳고 같이 9년을 살아야 할 남편 역은 현실에서 알리였다. 생명수를 찾았을 때도 들고 돌아오지 못했고, 부모님이나 언니들 중 아무도 살리지 못했다. 그래서 나는 생명수가 바리스스로를 살렸다고 생각한다. 이 소설의 두 메인 테마인 '이동'과'사랑'을 잘 연결시켜 주기 위해 타지에서 힘든 생활을 하는 바리를 위해 사랑으로 치유해 준 것이다. 작가의 오랜 준비기간이 느껴질 만큼 촘촘한 구성이였다.

'오스카 와일드' 시 "나의 아내에게 - 나의 시와 함께"

To My Wife - With A Copy Of My Poems
Oscar Wilde

I can write no stately proem
As a prelude to my lay;
From a poet to a poem
I would dare to say.

For if of these fallen petals
One to you seem fair,
Love will waft it till it settles
On your hair.

And when wind and winter harden
All the loveless land,
It will whisper of the garden
You will understand.


나의 아내에게 - 나의 시와 함께
오스카 와일드

나는 멋진 서문을 쓸 수 없소
내 노래의 서곡같은;
시인에게서 시로
나는 감히 말하려 하오

이 떨어지는 꽃잎들을 위하여
당신이 아름답다고 보았던 사랑은
그것이 자리잡기 전에 퍼져나갈 것이오
당신의 머리 위로.

그리고 바람과 겨울이 거세질 무렵
모든 사랑을 잃은 땅들은,
정원의 속삼임이 될 것이오.
당신은 곧 이해하게 될거오.

'윌리엄 칼로스 윌리엄스' 시 ""그냥 하는 말""

"This is Just to Say,"
William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
The plums
That were in
The icebox

And which
You were probably
Saving
For breakfast

Forgive me
They were delicious
So sweet
And so cold


"그냥 하는 말"
윌리엄 칼로스 윌리엄스

나는 먹었소
자두를
냉동박스 안에
있었던

그리고
아마 당신이
아침으로
아껴두었던

용서하시오
자두는 맛있었으니
매우 달콤하고
매우 차가웠으니

'김수영' 시 "풀"

풀

김수영

풀이 눕는다.
비를 몰아오는 동풍에 나부껴
풀은 눕고
드디어 울었다.
날이 흐려서 더 울다가
다시 누웠다.

풀이 눕는다.
바람보다도 더 빨리 눕는다.
바람보다도 더 빨리 울고
바람보다 먼저 일어난다.

날이 흐리고 풀이 눕는다.
발목까지
발밑까지 눕는다.
바람보다 늦게 누워도
바람보다 먼저 일어나고
바람보다 늦게 울어도
바람보다 먼저 웃는다.
날이 흐리고 풀뿌리가 눕는다.

'김수영' 시 "눈"

눈

김수영

눈은 살아 있다
떨어진 눈은 살아 있다
마당 위에 떨어진 눈은 살아 있다

기침을 하자
젊은 시인이여 기침을 하자
눈 위에 대고 기침을 하자
눈더러 보라고 마음놓고 마음놓고
기침을 하자

눈은 살아 있다
죽음을 잊어버린 영혼과 육체 위하여
눈은 새벽이 지나도록 살아 있다

기침을 하자
젊은 시인이여 기침을 하자
눈을 바라보며
밤새도록 고인 가슴의 가래라도
마음껏 뱉자

'김수영' 시 "폭포"

폭포

김수영

폭포는 곧은 절벽(絶壁)을 무서운 기색도 없이 떨어진다.

규정(規定)할 수 없는 물결이
무엇을 향(向)하여 떨어진다는 의미(意味)도 없이
계절(季節)과 주야(晝夜)를 가리지 않고
고매(高邁)한 정신(精神)처럼 쉴사이없이 떨어진다.

금잔화(金盞花)도 인가(人家)도 보이지 않는 밤이 되면
폭포(瀑布)는 곧은 소리를 내며 떨어진다.

곧은 소리는 곧은 소리이다.
곧은 소리는 곧은
소리를 부른다.

번개와 같이 떨어지는 물방울은
취(醉)할 순간(瞬間)조차 마음에 주지 않고
나타(懶惰)와 안정(安定)을 뒤집어 놓은 듯이
높이도 폭(幅)도 없이
떨어진다.

'공광규' 시 "별국"

별국
공광규

가난한 어머니는
항상 멀덕국을 끓이셨다

학교에서 돌아온 나를
손님처럼 마루에 앉히시고

흰 사기그릇이 앉아있는 밥상을
조심조심 받들고 부엌에서 나오셨다

국물 속에 떠 있던 별들

어떤 때는 숟가락에 달이 건져 올라와
배가 불렀다

숟가락과 별이 부딪히는
맑은 국그릇 소리가 가슴을 울렸는지

어머니의 눈에서
별빛 사리가 쏟아졌다

'Jung Hee Sung' poem "Forest"

숲
정희성

숲에 가 보니 나무들은
제가끔 서 있더군
제가끔 서 있어도 나무들은
숲이었어.
광화문 지하도를 지나며
숱한 사람들과 만나지만
왜 그들은 숲이 아닌가.
이 메마른 땅을 외롭게 지나치며
낯선 그대와 만날 때
그대와 나는 왜

숲이 아닌가.


Forest
Jung Hee Sung

When I went to the forest
Trees were the individuals
Even though it is true
They were forest
As passing by Gwang Hwa
I meet a lot of you
But why they are not forest
As passing by this barren land lonely
When I meet you
Why you and I are

Not a forest

'Jung Hyun Jong' poem "Island"

섬

정현종

사람들 사이에 섬이 있다.
그 섬에 가고 싶다.

Island

Jung Hyun Jong

There are islands between people.

Want to go there.

Jung Ho Seung poem "Baby's Breath"

안개꽃
정호승

얼마나 착하게 살았으면
얼마나 깨끗하게 살았으면
죽어서도 그대로 피어 있는가
장미는 시들 때 고개를 꺾고
사람은 죽을 때 입을 벌리는데
너는 사는 것과 죽는 것이 똑 같구나
세상의 어머니들 돌아가시면
저 모습으로
우리 헤어져도
저 모습으로

Baby's Breath

Jung Ho Seung

How much kind you are

How much innocent you are

You are still you even in death

Roses break their neck

People open their mouth

But you, you are same all the time

One day when mothers die

Like that flower

Even we break up

Like that flower

'Na Tae Joo' poem "Happiness"

행복
나태주

저녁 때
돌아갈 집이 있다는 것

힘들 때
마음속으로 생각할 사람이 있다는 것

외로울 때
혼자서 부를 노래가 있다는 것

Happiness

Na Tae Joo

At the evening

A home to go back

When you hard

Someone to think

When you alone

A song to sing 

[출처] 나태주시인의 풀꽃 그리고 행복|작성자 꽃그녀

'Na Tae Joo' poem "A Flower"

풀꽃
나태주

자세히 보아야

예쁘다

오래 보아야

사랑스럽다

너도 그렇다

A Flower

Na Tae Joo

Looking deeply

It is beautiful

Looking continually

It is lovely

You are same too

[출처] 나태주시인의 풀꽃 그리고 행복|작성자 꽃그녀

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park

 It was the cover, which attracted me to this book. I know it is bad habit to choose book by its cover. But honestly I don't "judge the book by [only] its cover", so. Anyway, the book was cute and lovely just like the cover and also author's name, Rainbow Rowell (how lovely her name is! the colours and 'roll' sound).

1. The boy character named as Park, and before I opened this book, I wondered it's Korean name or not. The boy has dark black hair and park is obviously one of most popular family names in Korea. But still I couldn't stop doubting it is western name, like Kim (Kim is everywhere in Korean, but also it is used in western countries too)
 However, it comes to be the boy is Korean, mix breed but still. I'm so glad to see Korean character in the book. It is obvious that Korea became strong country and it is appeared and mentioned in many other regions, but I still surprised and glad to meet Korea in where it is not related to Korea. Maybe it is biased feeling, but I came to like this book.

2. Eleanor is described as chubby girl, and has very unique (kind of weird) styles. So some kids are made fun of her, because she is different. Even some readers say that it will be greater if Eleanor is not chubby but looks more cute or pretty. But I don't agree. I think this novel criticize the "beautism" in some way.
 Everyone has different characteristics and charming points. Like I said in the beginning, you can prefer to be more beautiful and prettier (in your view), but you don't have right to judge someone by their appearance. Park likes Eleanor's interests like music and books, her chubby and soft skin, her hair, and lots of things, no almost everything. He doesn't care what others think. Also Eleanor likes Park's dark styling, and Asian appearance. Someone may don't like their these characteristic, but at the same time, it could be worked as attractive points to someone else. Everybody has different aspect and no body can dare to judge someone else. Now it becomes complicated and I think this is really sensitive topic. So to organize, my thought was Park and Eleanor was cute and lovely just the way they are, no matter what others think, and everybody on the Earth deserves it too.

3. Change in perspective. In this book Eleanor and Park narrate their stories. But in fact, it changes too much sometimes. The biggest pros and attractive point of changing the point of view is it allows to see hidden stories or emotions that don't appeal in others' view. But Eleanor and Park spent time together so much and the feelings are quite obvious, so there are not much differences from this effect. But still, I enjoy to read Eleanor and Park's feeling to each other; they are just so cute.

4. The music was good too. Plus, I really glad that this novel is based on old generation like my parent's. They used walkman, which is so analogue, and I love this kind of stuffs. These days, everything is so easy and fast, it's not romantic than before. Eleanor kept listening Park's tape again and again till the tape is broken, and Park spent his time as making new mix tape for Eleanor. Not through the dialect way, like sharing and downloading music, texting to each other, they used slow but more romantic and analogue way to express their love. Sometimes, I think we need these until now.

5. (Spoil!) The ending was not happy, but I think it is best for the novel. The book was adorable and nice to read, but as I follow the story, what I taught was it is so easy. There are little argue between Eleanor and Park sometimes, but they never go through huge problems. Well, her father is the problem for sure, but he is not counted because he's the one who makes this ending. So I was little worried that this book comes to be just happy and lovely all the time. But with this ending, it solves all the worries and curiosity for the prologue. It's quite sad to admit, but I think that's the way life works. It can't be always happy, that's the way it is.

'Ko Un' poem

고은


노를 젓다가
노를 놓쳐버렸다.

비로소 넓은 물을 돌아보았다.



Ko Un

Rowing
Losing

At last saw the deep water.

Please Look After Mother by Kyung-sook Shin

Please Look After Mother

 This book was originally written in Korean by popular author, Kyung-sook Shin. When this book first came out, it became best-seller for a year (or even more than that) and still this book recognized as her master piece. I didn't read the Korean book yet, but I can sure that translation was good enough. Although English couldn't express certain dialect of Korean, but I think the translation is successful. (It's quiet interesting to compare original one and translated one)

1. The book is about finding missing mother in different perspective. The point of views are keep changing; first daughter to first son (older brother), husband, and finally mother herself as a bird. The interesting thing is, it is written in your view, means narrator describes the scenes and "you"(reader) became the daughter, son, husband, and mother. I like the kind of books that using the change of perspective, and it is not usual. I didn't know this book was like this, and it was so glad to meet the second chapter as in son's view.
 Different narrators show the reader various aspects or descriptions in one story. Sometimes it comes annoying or messy, but if author have ability to handle this, the story become more interesting and plentiful. And I'm sure Shin is one of the few authors who can use the change of view in perfect place for perfect time.

2. Mother. In Korea, mothers used to be very dedicated to family before because of the  patriarchal aspects. Well, not only in Korea but also in most of other cultures, mother is the one who always look for the sake of family. They feed their kids and husband, raise and teach the kids, do the house works, some of them even have their own job. I can feel mother's touch everywhere in my house, clothes, bed, or kitchen.
 However, since mother become to recognize as a word of dedication and willingness, many people forget to thank for their mother these days. People accept mum's devotion as natural thing. I, myself, forget how much mum does for me and my family sometimes. But there are no certain rule or law that makes mum the one who do all the things for you. It is never allowed to say do your favour "because you are mum". It is so simple and obvious thing, but everybody forget this.
 I guess this is what Shin wanted to point out from this book. Mum has done everything behind your back, but you never notice it. Only after she disappeared, you feel the emptiness and everything is messed up.

3. Sometimes, not only mum, but people also forget the importance of lots of things that are always with them. And we never notice it before we lost it. Humans are so stupid and selfish sometimes.

4. Readers couldn't know what happen to mother until they reach the final chapter, the mother's point of view. Because she looks down her house and daughters, so we can guess she passed away, but I didn't expect that she became the bird. After she lived where she used to be, she came back anyway and tries to look after her families.
 In many literature, bird symbolizes the freedom. Maybe mum finally became free from her burden physically, but her mind is still remaining on the surface of the earth.

5. Mum, grandmother, grand-grand mother, and so on... Every mother is daughter of their mother at the same time being their daughter's mother. There is one popular phrase in Korea, "You can only understand your parents after you become them" I wish I can look after my mum now and think about her before she leaved me and I lost my chance.

Kitchen by Yoshimoto Banana

 Kitchen
 Yoshimoto Banana. I heard her name many times and my Japanese teacher asked me that had you read any of her works before. Her name, Banana, was dragged my interests, so I came to read the "Kitchen" in our school library. As like her name, the novel was soft and sweet.

1. Juxtaposition in characters
 The name of book is "Kitchen" but it includes two stories, 'kitchen' and 'moonlight shadow'. The interesting thing is that these are two totally different stories but they have some similar points. First, main character of both stories are the woman who lost their lovers. In 'kitchen', Mikage lost her grandmother at the beginning and Satsuki from 'moonlight shadow' lost her boyfriend Hitoshi by car accident. Both of them suffered with great pain.
 Also main male character lost their lover too. In 'kitchen', Yuichi's mother, who had been his father once a while, was killed by customer, and Hirragi, the brother of Hitoshi, also lost her girlfriend and his brother at the same time. So all characters from this novel stuck in sorrow mood and terribly suffered. However, in each story heroine and male character helps to save each other. Mikage and Yuichi shared memories with Mikage's grandmother and Yuichi's mother, Eriko. Every time they missed the time with grandmother and Eriko, they depend on each other and get hopeful feeling back. Also Satsuki and Hitoshi shared their lovers memories too.
 Additionally, the most interesting character to me is the Eriko. After her(his) wife dead by cancer, she decided to live like woman and after a long time she killed by the man in her shop. She missed her wife so much, that she also reminded me Hirragi from 'moonlight shadow', who dressed up her dead girlfriend's school uniform everyday.

2. Juxtaposition in events
 Mikage ate Gatsudon in diner in the hotel. Satsuki ate tempura in another(or maybe same) diner with Hirragi. Both foods looks like be made by special skills and nicely prepared, and helps two heroines took rid of their pain.
 In many Japanese art works, they leave the important meaning on food. They believe the food made out from heart (?) delivers deep happiness and impression to one who eat it. I think that's true, and with that crispy foods, Mikage and Satsuki could forget their sorrow for a while.

3. Mystery
 I felt like that whole stories in this book used mysterious and beautiful mood. The things that usually can't happen or can't be believed appears in the story, for example, Mikage and Yuichi dreamed same thing once and Mikage decided to visit Yuichi in the midnight, even they were in far distance. Mikage also took risk of sneaking in hotel and crossing over the roof to meet Yuchi, who she didn't sure she loves him or not right before.
 In 'moonlight shadow', the more mysterious events happened. Urara, the super-mysterious women met Satsuki and Urara looked like she understood what Satsuki had been through and what she felt now. Also thanks to Urara, Satsuki could meet Hitoshi again and say good bye, and at the same time, Hirragi met her girlfriend again for short time too. Totally unbelievable and fictional, but I like the way it is. I think most readers feel same with me, whether it is true or not is not important, it is fiction anyway. The events make the story beautiful and that's enough.

4. However...
 The story was soft and dreamy, and even though it was English translation, I can feel the beauty of vocabularies and expressions that writers chose. However, I think the power of the message is little weak. And I realize some of other Japanese film or novels feel like the same way too. They are beautiful work and warmhearted, but because of some reason, the stories are weak. I don't mean to say badly about Japanese work, but it just feel like they depends on beauty too much sometimes. Maybe I'm still young to understand this novel fully yet. But it will be better to develop how they feel in mind deeply, or how they overcome their pain and how they feel afterward, - the ending of 'kitchen' was , kind of, so sudden - or how the food give effect on them more. I don't know, maybe I expect too much about the food before I read this novel - it's because of the title, but I'm little confused while I was reading the book.
 Anyway, it was sweet novel and it was the first time to read Japanese novel in English, and it was like really impressive experience. Maybe I try another work of Banana later.

'Hwang In Sook' poem "Dreaming"

꿈

황인숙

가끔 네 꿈을 꾼다.
전에는 꿈이라도 꿈인 줄 모르겠더니
이제는 너를 보면
아, 꿈이로구나,
알아챈다.

Dreaming

Hwang In Sook

I often dream of you.

Before I could not notice

But now when I see you

Ah, It was a dream,

I notice it.