Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Lee, Hee Kuk is a Korean poet. Born in Seoul city of South Korea. He is Pharmacist and Adjunct Professor of College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea. He is a member of Executive of PEN Korean Center of PEN International. He published 5 poetry books. He won 4 Literature awards.
I passed by the station by Lee, Hee Kuk
High school classmates who have known each other for 40 years meet at a friend’s new house move-in ceremony
The long-standing friendship led to the third celebration
After the party, I thought it was okay and headed to Ujangsan Station
I changed it twice in an hour and a half.
In the comfy chair of the last line 5, I fell into a deep sleep
“Gimpo Airport Station!”
I got off in a hurry at the sound of waking me up
At 12 o’clock at night, when the last train had gone, where were all those people?
The cold-faced building of the station stood staring at me as if it were crushing me
I was always staring at the train that was running and walking ahead of me
My direction swayed in a moment, in a twist
My consciousness of taking the kindness of the world for granted
It seemed abandoned and thrust into a dark corner
There was a time before when I missed the station I had to get off at
Boasting about passing in front of frustrated people,
Flaunt my wealth before the poor,
There was a time when I shouted to those who had never been treated well that they should respect me first
There have been many times in my life when I have taken the wrong path
But the later you turn around, the more you can be left alone on a remote street
The last train that carried me reminded me.
역驛을 지나쳐 버렸다
이희국
40년 지기 고등학교 동창 집들이
오랜 정情은 3차로 이어졌다
파장 한 후 말짱하다고 생각한 나는 우장산역을 향해
한 시간 반 동안 두 번을 갈아탔고
마지막 5호선 편한 의자는 깊은 졸음 속으로 나를 끌어들였다
“김포공항역입니다!”
잠을 깨우는 소리에 엉겁결에 내린 나
막차도 가버린 밤 12시, 그 많던 사람은 어디로 가고
냉랭한 표정의 휑한 역사驛舍만 짓누르듯 나를 바라보고 서있었다
달리던 열차와 늘 우듬지만 바라보고 앞서 걷던
내 방향이 순간, 엇박자로 흔들렸다
세상의 살가움에 당연하던 나의 의식은
버려진 듯 어둠의 귀퉁이로 몰려있었다
내려야 할 역을 놓치던 때가 예전에도 있었다
좌절한 사람들 앞에서 합격을 자랑하고
가난한 사람들 앞에서 부를 과시하고
한 번도 관심 받아본 적 없는 이들에게
먼저 바라보라 외치던 때가 있었다
살다가 잘못된 길 들어설 때가 자주 있었다
그러나 돌아설 시간이 늦을수록 외진 거리에
혼자 버려질 수 있다는 것을
나를 나르던 저 막차가 다시 일깨웠다.
Bull Fight by Lee, Hee Kuk
They made the bull fight.
Win! people shouting
The sides are divided into regret and joy.
A bull that doesn’t smile even if it wins
looking at the sky
He urinates like a spectacle.
Never fight with anyone, my mother advised me
I hear my mother’s words in my heart
Living is
In an isolated battlefield
Something that must be fought in vain without knowing the reason.
I want to stroke the burp of a cow that was lying down.
Actually, watching a fight
It was a day when I wanted to find my mother’s knees,
with my muddy, limp feet.
소싸움 이희국
싸움을 시켜놓고
이겨라! 외치는 사람들
편들기는 아쉬움과 환희로 나누어지고
이겨도 웃지 않는 소가
하늘을 보며
구경거리처럼 콸콸 오줌을 눈다
절대 누구랑 싸우지 마라, 당부하던
어머니 그 말 가슴속에서 들리고
사는 것은
고립된 싸움터에서
연유도 모른 채 허망하게 겨루어야 하는 일
엎드린 소
여물 넘기던 울대 쓰다듬고 싶다
실상은, 싸움구경하다
절뚝절뚝 진흙 묻은 발로
어머니 무릎을 찾고 싶은 날.
Ask the stars by Lee, Hee Kuk
After the summer rain stops, Gyeryongsan Mountain Lodge at night
I met the sky that I used to see with my mother when I was a child
Such a beautiful cluster of stars
What have I been so busy doing that I’ve forgotten about it until now?
Stars wrapped around the waves of the galaxy
Where did that river flow and come here?
Where do we meet again after the cruise?
The grimy city doesn’t believe in the Milky Way,
I didn’t believe in dying and becoming a star.
The face of heaven has not changed in the slightest
All those who have left my side are floating in front of me tonight
Now the past is fading
One by one, important things are missing, and I’m left empty-handed
A sparkling friendliness that comes to me
Is my place there?
Is there no trouble in that grayish-white river?
As I leave the city, I see the sky.
별에게 묻다
이희국
비 개인 여름 계룡산 산장의 밤
어린 날 어머니와 함께 보던 하늘을 만났다
저토록 아름다운 별무리를
무엇에 쫓겨 지금껏 잊고 살았을까
은하의 물결에 멱을 감고 있는 별들
저 강은 어디로 흘렀다가 이곳에 왔는가
어느 곳 유람을 마치고 우리 다시 만나는가
때 묻은 도시는 미리내를 믿지 않고
죽어서 별이 된다는 말, 나도 믿지 않았는데
하늘의 얼굴은 조금도 변하지 않았다
내 곁을 떠난 사람 모두 오늘밤 내 앞에 떠 있다
이제 과거는 색이 바래고
소중한 것도 하나 둘 빠져 빈손만 남았는데
반짝이며 다가오는 살가움
나의 자리도 그곳에 있는지
회백색 그 강에는 시름이 없는지
도시를 떠나오니 하늘이 보인다.
