A life touched by petals and their shadows,
How could a life be so utterly beautiful?
Heo, Hyung-man is a seasoned poet from South Korea
Poet Heo Hyung-man was born in 1945 in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. He made his literary debut in 1973 through the literary magazine Wolgan Munhak (Monthly Literature). He has published 20 poetry collections, including Eyes of the Soul, Ecstasy, Wind Sword, and Encounter. His works have also been published abroad, including the Chinese poetry collection 許炯万詩賞析 and the Japanese poetry collection 耳な葬る.
He has received numerous literary honors, such as the Korean Poets Association Award, the Yeongrang Poetry Literature Award, the Pyeonun Literature Award, and the Gongcho Literature Award.
He is currently an Emeritus Professor at Mokpo National University.
Red Plum Blossoms
Red Plum BlossomsA single wooden chair
Beneath an old red plum tree
Receives falling petals
With its whole body
And takes in the shadows between the petals as well.
A life touched by petals and their shadows,
How could a life be so utterly beautiful?
***
홍매紅梅
나무 의자 하나가
늙은 홍매 아래에서
온몸으로 꽃잎을 받는다
꽃잎 사이사이
꽃그늘도 받는다
꽃잎과 꽃그늘에 어린
한 삶이 저리 고울 수가 없다
____________________
