Even the raging waves that crash against the rocks,

Sending up wild sprays of water,

Will, in time, become calm ripples.

Ms. Yang Geum-Hee, an acclaimed poetess from Korea, shares her poem

Hailing from Jeju Island of Republic of Korea, Poetess Ms. Yang Geum-Hee has published four poetry collections and has won eight literary awards. She has published poetry collections such as Happiness Account, Ieodo: The Island of Legend and Reality, Nests of Birds (published in Taiwan), and Nests of Birds (English-Korean poetry book). Additionally, she has written the research book Inheritance of Ieodo Culture and the essay collection A Happy Companion on the Journey. In recognition of her extensive international literary contributions, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Forum for Creativity and Humanity (President Dr. Aziz Mountassir) in the Kingdom of Morocco in March 2025. She was the founding President of the Ieodo Literature Association, editor-in-chief of Jejuin News, a researcher at the Jeju Sea Grant Center, a specially appointed professor at Jeju International University, and the 2nd President of the Korean Association of World Literature. Currently, she serves as an editorial writer for Samda Ilbo, President of Jeju PEN, and Vice President of the Korean Peace Cooperation. Her poetry has been translated and introduced in various countries, including USA, China, Russia, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Greece, Belgium, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kosovo, Albania, Vietnam, Mexico, South America, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

The Ocean of Emotions

Even the raging waves that crash against the rocks,

Sending up wild sprays of water,

Will, in time, become calm ripples.

 

The vast and deep ocean

Embraces and nurtures all,

From mighty whales to tiny fish.

In its depths, the rocks become

Homes for fish,

Places of refuge,

Where anemones and corals take root.

 

But even those rocks

We’re not strong from the start.

Once, they were molten lava,

Hardened only after the violent eruption of a volcano.

 

When rocks and waves collide and lean on each other,

Enduring the passage of time together,

They create a sanctuary for marine life,

Where, in the depths of the soul,

A lush forest of seaweed flourishes.

 

Emotions are the same.

Even when turbulent waves surge,

Time will calm them into gentle ripples.

And just as patience and harmony

Shape the ocean’s vast embrace,

So too does the heart grow deeper and wider.

***

감정의 바다

거친 물보라를 일으키며 바위를 때리는

사나운 파도도

시간이 지나면 결국 잔잔한 물결이 된다.

 

넓고 깊은 바다는

고래부터 작은 물고기까지 품어 기르며,

그 심연 속에서 바위는

물고기의 집이 되고,

안식처가 되며,

말미잘과 산호가 뿌리내린다.

 

하지만 그 바위조차도

처음부터 강했던 것은 아니다.

한때는 뜨거운 용암이었고,

화산의 격렬한 분출을 거쳐

굳어진 존재다.

 

바위와 파도가 부딪히고 서로 기대며

함께 세월을 견딜 때,

그곳은 바다 생명체들의 안식처가 되고,

영혼의 깊은 심연 속에서

풍요로운 해초 숲이 자라난다.

 

감정도 그러하다.

거친 파도가 몰아쳐도,

시간이 지나면 잔잔한 물결이 되듯,

인내와 조화가 바다를 깊고 넓게 하듯이,

우리의 마음도 그렇게 성장해 간다.

________________ 

Read: Aesthetics of wind – A Poem from Jeju Island