As light shines brighter in the darkest night,
May peace break through with gentle might!
Ms. Yang Geum-Hee, an eminent poetess from Korea, shares her poetry
Hailing from Jeju Island of South 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 Path of Peace
As light shines brighter in the darkest night,
May peace break through with gentle might!
Seeping through Gaza’s cracks of despair,
A beacon of hope in the heavy air.
Just as starlight travels from afar,
Reaching us from a distant star,
May peace ignite a flame so bright!
A lighthouse glowing through the night.
Follow its glow, O hearts in pain,
Though you wander, though you strain,
Even if your path seems dim,
The way of peace will call you in.
***
평화의 길
가장 어두운 밤 속에서 빛이 더욱 밝아지듯,
평화가 부드러운 힘으로 뚫고 나오길.
절망의 틈새 속 가자에 스며들어
무거운 공기 속 희망의 등불이 되기를.
마치 먼 별에서 온 별빛이
우리에게 다다르듯,
평화가 밝은 불꽃을 피워
밤을 밝히는 등대가 되길.
그 빛을 따라가라, 고통 속 마음들이여,
비록 방황하고 힘겨워도,
비록 너의 길이 어둑해 보여도,
평화의 길이 너를 부를 것이다
***
A Prayer for Peace
Let hearts that burn with deep disdain,
Flow into waters that soothe the pain,
And form as drops that gently blend,
To forge a path where peace won’t end,
So sons and daughters, free from strife,
May live in Gaza, full of life.
Let war’s desire drift away,
Flow into waters that calm the fray,
And may the warmth of peace extend,
To touch all lands and gently mend.
We pray for sunlight’s healing grace,
To spread the fragrance of peace in space,
And bind us close, all hate undone,
Together, breathing as if one.
Let war’s intent now lose its hold,
Flow into waters calm and cold,
Light the torch that never dies,
With hearts as one, we rise and rise,
To greet the dawn, so bright and new,
A world reborn in peaceful hue.
***
평화를 위한 기도
깊은 경멸로 타오르는 마음이
고통을 달래는 물결로 흐르고,
부드럽게 섞이는 물방울 되어
끝없는 평화의 길을 이룰 수 있게 하소서.
그래서 아들딸들, 다툼 없는 자유 속에서
생명 넘치는 가자에서 살 수 있기를.
전쟁의 욕망이 사라져
혼란을 가라앉히는 물결로 흘러가고,
평화의 온기가 널리 퍼져
모든 땅을 감싸고 치유할 수 있기를.
햇살의 치유하는 은총을 위해 기도하오니,
평화의 향기를 우주에 퍼뜨려
모든 증오를 없애고, 우리를 하나로 묶어
함께 숨 쉴 수 있기를.
이제 전쟁의 의도가 그 힘을 잃고
차고 고요한 물결로 흘러가게 하소서.
영원히 꺼지지 않는 횃불을 밝혀
마음 하나 되어 일어서고 또 일어서서,
밝고 새로운 새벽을 맞이하며
평화의 색으로 다시 태어난 세상을 이루게 하소서.
_________________
Read: Poetry: Light That Illuminates the World
