Yang Geum-Hee, an eminent poetess and scholar from Jeju Island of Korea, the Land of Morning Calm, shares her two poems  

Poetess Yang Geum-Hee has published two collections of 2 poetry books. She was the first president of the Ieodo Literature Association, the editor-in-chief of the Jejuin News, and worked as a researcher at the Jeju Sea Grand Center and a specially appointed professor at Jeju International University. Currently, she is editorial writer for the New Jeju Ilbo, vice-president of the Jeju Regional Committee of the Korean PEN Center, Executive of the Jeju Institute for Korean Unification, and Executive of the Korean Association of Ethics. She has won six literary awards.

House made of fallen leaves

The winter wind lifts the old fallen leaves

Covered with a leaf blanket under a leaf roof,

Sprouts sleeping in a huddle,

They wake up startled

 

All the leaves that supported the sky have fallen

They became a wall on the ground that blocked the wind.

Leaning against a wall means keeping your back warm

Now they also have a windbreaker.

That means they are ready to open wide the doors to the world

 

Things that once became memories and longings

Things that were once the center of the world

Hugging each other

Embracing spring

Spring, which had been curled up all winter, awakens.

***

낙엽으로 지은 집

겨울바람이 묵은 낙엽을 들춘다

낙엽 지붕 아래 낙엽 이불 덮고

옹기종기 잠자던 새싹들

깜짝 놀라 잠에서 깨어난다

 

하늘을 떠받치던 잎새는 모두 내려놓고

바람을 막아주는 지상의 벽이 되었다

벽에 기댄다는 것은 등이 따뜻해지는 일

이제 내게도 바람막이가 생겼다는 것

세상의 문을 활짝 열 준비가 되었다는 것이다

 

추억이 되고 그리움이 되는 것들이

한때 세상의 중심이었던 것들이

서로를 끌어안고

봄을 품고 있다

겨우내 둥글게 구부리고 있던 봄이 깨어난다

***

Halla Arirang

Clouds reflected in Baekrokdam Lake,

Coming over Arirang Hill

 

Ten million years of wind,

Following your footsteps

A white deer came out to greet you on the way home.

I look into Halla’s eyes.

 

Arirang

Arirang Arirang Arariyo

Going over Arirang Pass

 

10 million years of floating clouds on the summit of Hallasan Mountain

Oh my love

 

Let’s go, let’s go together, let’s go together

To the summit of Hallasan Mountain and Baeknokdam,

White deer blue Halla

Following the auspicious dream path

 

Arirang Arirang Arariyo

Going over Arirang Pass

 

Hold hands and hold hearts

The place where Seolhaemok woke up

Sunrise Sea while looking at Ilchulbong

I will bring the language of starlight

***

한라 아리랑

 

백록담 호수에 비친 구름,

아리랑 고개를 넘어온다

 

천만년 바람결,

그대 오신다는 발걸음 따라

흰 사슴 오시는 길마중 나온

한라의 눈빛을 본다

 

아리랑

아리랑 아라리요

아리랑 고개를 넘어간다

 

천만년 한라산 정상에 뜬구름

어화둥둥 내 사랑이어라

 

가세 가세 함께 가보세

한라산 정상으로 백록담으로,

흰 사슴 푸른 한라

상서로운 꿈길 따라

 

아리랑 아리랑

아라리요

아리랑 고개를 넘어간다

 

손잡고 마음 잡고

설해목 깨어난 자리

일출봉 바라보며 해 뜨는 바다

별빛의 언어를 길어오리라

_______________________  

Also read: Address of happiness – A Poem from Korea