Why does the lantern lit by flowers extinguish so swiftly?
Is it to teach us to seize the fleeting moment and live as though it were eternity?
Poet Choi Gyu-hak
Choi Gyu-hak is a distinguished Korean poet, educator, and literary leader who has made significant contributions to both literature and education in Chungcheongnam-do Province, South Korea. He currently serves as President of the Buyeo Writers Association, Vice President of the Chungnam Writers Association, Member of the Literary Life Promotion Committee of the Korean Writers’ Association, and Vice President of the Korean Public Servants Literary Association. He previously served as Head of the Buyeo Branch of the Sijo Society under the Korean Writers’ Association, Principal of Buyeo High School, and Adjunct Professor at Kongju National University. Choi made his literary debut as a poet through Changjo Munhak (Creative Literature) in 2016. In 2021, he further established himself as a sijo poet through both Changjo Munhak and Sijo Sarang (Love of Sijo), actively engaging in creative writing that embraces both modern poetry and the traditional Korean sijo form. His works are widely appreciated for their harmonious blend of lyrical beauty and philosophical reflection, grounded in profound insights into nature, humanity, life, and love. His major publications include the sijo collections Moon Shadow (Dalgeurimja) and The Moon Fallen into the Lake (Hosu-e Ppajin Dal), as well as the poetry collections Song of Flowers, Song of Life, Song of Love, and Song of Place. Through these works, he explores the meaning and beauty of human existence while celebrating the enduring values of love and life, leaving a lasting impression on readers. In recognition of his literary achievements, Choi has received numerous honors, including the 6th Bae Gi-jeong Literary Award, the Korea Culture and Arts Achievement Award, the Chungnam Culture and Arts Grand Prize, and the Culture & People Author of the Month Award. Through his dedication to poetry and sijo, his leadership in literary organizations, and his commitment to nurturing future generations of writers, Choi Gyu-hak is regarded as a respected senior literary figure who continues to contribute to the advancement of contemporary Korean literature.
Cherry Blossom Lanterns
Upon a pitch-black wick, a lantern burns in white flame,
Though not quite enlightenment, it brightens the heart’s own light.
Even the mountain birds, long unnoticed, awaken with a start.
The streetlamps that illumine the night road are flowers too,
Yet these blossoms illumine an inner realm where no celestial light has ever trod.
Along the cherry-blossom path, the shadows of passersby glow softly.
Why does the lantern lit by flowers extinguish so swiftly?
Is it to teach us to seize the fleeting moment and live as though it were eternity?
When I turn back in lingering regret, black fruits shimmer quietly in the dark.
벚꽃 등불
시커먼 심지 위에 하얗게 타는 등불
깨달음 아니어도 마음 빛 밝아진다
무심코 보던 산새도 화들짝 깨어난다
밤길을 밝혀주는 가로등도 꽃이지만
별빛이 닿지 않는 마음 한 칸 불 밝힌다
벚꽃 길 지나는 사람 그림자도 환하다
꽃으로 밝힌 등불을 곧바로 끄는 뜻은
순간을 거머잡고 영원을 살란 건가
아쉬워 뒤돌아보니 까만 열매 반짝인다
***
Moon’s Shadow
My heart, a clear lake, becomes a mirror.
Though the sun, stars, clouds, and flowers
Take turns appearing upon its surface,
it will hold only your apparition,
Shining white against the night sky.
달그림자
내 가슴 맑은 호수 거울이 따로 없다
해와 별 구름 꽃이 번갈아 비쳐와도
밤하늘 하얗게 빛난 네 환영만 담으리
***
The Scripture Without Words
Shall I call it an apple, or shall I call it fruit?
Shall I call it a fountain, or shall I call it water?
Though they seem different, all are one,
So let me call them mind.
Dew upon a blade of grass vanishes beneath the sun.
Neither truly existing, nor truly nonexistent,
All things throughout the universe
Are a scripture without words.
Seen through the eyes of wisdom, everything is but a shadow.
When wildflowers bloom, the hillside grows bright.
Let us all, here upon this hillside, tend the trees that bear flowers.
글씨 없는 경전
사과라 부르리까 과일이라 부르리까
분수라 부르리까 물이라 부르리까
다른 듯 모두 같으니 마음이라 부르리
풀잎에 맺힌 이슬 햇살에 스러지네
있지도 아니하고 없지도 아니하니
온 우주 삼라만상이 글씨 없는 경전이다
지혜로 바라보니 모든 것이 그림자다
들꽃이 피어나면 언덕이 환해진다
우리 다 이 언덕에서 꽃나무를 가꾸자
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