Perhaps, with every step I took, you were always there.

Because you are here, I see my reflection,

And because I can see you,

There must be a heart of pure sincerity.

Ko Kilsun, a poetess from Korea, the land of Morning Calm, shares her poem

Poet Ko Kilsun was born in Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island, in 1967. She graduated from Jeju National University with a Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature in 1990 and earned a Master of Arts in Literature, specializing in Archaeological Art History, from Dong-A University in 2013. She obtained certification as a museum curator in 2014 and served as the curator of the Jeju Fossil Museum from 2007 to 2013. She then worked as the chief curator of the Jeju Hanulland Museum from 2013 to 2020. She has been a member of the Seogwipo Sumbisori Poetry Recitation Society since 2015 and served as its president in 2013. She is also an auditor for the Tamna Cultural Heritage Preservation Association. In December 2023, she made her literary debut by winning the Newcomer’s Poetry Award in Monthly Literary Magazine Munyesajo, with her poem Boundary Line and two other poems. Currently, she is a member of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Jeju Literature Museum Operations Committee (since 2023). She is also a member of the Seogwipo branch of the Korean Writers’ Association, the Jeju branch of the Korean Writers’ Association, the Korean Association of World Literature, and the Seogwipo Cultural Projects Association.

Companion

Through the long days, I turn around to find you standing before me.

When I wandered there, failing to recognize you,

You saw me first and reached out your hand.

Amidst the rough winds,

I feared you might see me waver,

And in the end, I could not step forward.

Perhaps, with every step I took, you were always there.

Because you are here, I see my reflection,

And because I can see you,

There must be a heart of pure sincerity.

Though the road of life is weary and harsh,

It remains beautiful

Because you and I are mirrors reflecting each other.

My friend,

My dear one,

Let us walk together.

***

동행

긴긴날 돌아 당신 내 앞에 있습니다.

알아채지 못하고 그 앞을 서성일 때

먼저 알아보고 손을 내밀어 준 당신

속바람 일고

비틀걸음 들킬까 발짓 동동대다

기어이 다가가지 못했지요.

아마도 내 걸음마다 당신은 거기 있었나 봅니다.

당신이 있어 나를 보고

내가 당신 모습 볼 수 있는 것은

지순함이 없이 어찌 이룰 수가 있을까요

삶의 길이 힘들고 고단하여도

그 삶이 아름다운 것은

너와 나의 거울이 되기 때문이려니

사람아

내 사람아

함께 가지 않으시려오

____________ 

Read: House made of fallen leaves – Poetry from Korea