Translated by Chae-Pyong Song and Anne Rashid

Photography by Choi Il-ryoung

Chunhyang’s Words: Part Three,
Chunhyang’s Last Words by Seo Jung-ju

Farewell,
Young Master.

Like the thick, green tree
under whose shade we stood together
when we first met on Dano of May,*
I wish you well forever, forever.

Though I don’t know for sure
where the other world is,
however far away it is,
my love will be able to travel.

Even though I may flow as dark water thousands of feet below the earth,
or fly as high as a cloud upon the Tusita sky,
wouldn’t it still be beside you, Young Master?

Moreover, when the cloud fills with a torrential rain,
I, Chunhyang, will certainly be there.

*The fifth of May celebrates Spring in the lunar calendar.

춘향유문—춘향의 말3/ 서정주

안녕히 계세요.
도련님.

지난 오월 단옷날, 처음 만나던 날
우리 둘이서, 그늘 밑에 서있던
그 무성하고 푸르던 나무같이
늘 안녕히 안녕히 계세요.

저승이 어딘지는 똑똑히 모르지만,
춘향의 사랑보단 오히려 더 먼
딴 나라는 아마 아닐 것입니다.

천 길 땅 밑을 검은 물로 흐르거나
도솔천의 하늘을 구름으로 날더라도
그건 결국 도련님 곁 아니예요?

더구나 그 구름이 소나기가 되어 퍼부을 때
춘향은 틀림없이 거기 있을 거예요.

Seo Jeong-ju (1915 – 2000) was born in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. He is considered the founding father of modern Korean poetry. Under the pen name Midang, he published at least 15 collections of poetry. He taught Korean literature at Chosun University, among others. He was also nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. His grandmother’s stories and his interest in Buddhism had a strong influence upon his writing. His works have been translated into a number of languages, including English, French, Spanish and German.

Translated by Chae-Pyong Song and Anne Rashid

Photography by Hye Hyon

Chunhyang’s Words: Part Two,
On the Day that Shines Again by Seo Jung-ju

Spirit,
at first, my heart was like a wavering haze
on a day when thousands of skylarks sing;
It was like small clouds flying together
in the verdant river
where the fish with glittering scales swim.

Spirit,
but when you came one day in his shape,
I became a mad whirlwind.
I became a torrential rain,
a cascading waterfall from a cliff.

But Spirit,
like the ocean swallows a small creek,
you took him away again,
and left only an evening glow
burning in my empty heart.

Spirit,
another day shines upon me.
Now, the color of my heart,
blooming like bellflowers on the mountain,
is your love.

다시 밝은 날에—춘향의 말 2/서정주

신령님,
처음 내 마음은 수천만 마리
노고지리 우는 날의 아지랭이 같았습니다.
번쩍이는 비늘을 단 고기들이 헤엄치는
초록의 강 물결
어우러져 날으는 아기구름 같았습니다.

신령님,
그러나 그의 모습으로 어느 날 당신이 내게 오셨을 때
나는 미친 회오리바람이 되었습니다.
쏟아져 내리는 벼랑의 폭포,
쏟아져 내리는 소나기비가 되었습니다.

그러나 신령님,
바닷물이 작은 여울을 마시듯
당신이 다시 그를 데려가시고
그 훠-ㄴ한 내 마음에
마지막 타는 저녁 노을을 두셨습니다.

신령님,
그리하여 또 한번 내 위에 밝는 날
이제
산골에 피어나는 도라지꽃 같은
내 마음의 빛깔은 당신의 사랑입니다.

Seo Jeong-ju (1915 – 2000) was born in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. He is considered the founding father of modern Korean poetry. Under the pen name Midang, he published at least 15 collections of poetry. He taught Korean literature at Chosun University, among others. He was also nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. His grandmother’s stories and his interest in Buddhism had a strong influence upon his writing. His works have been translated into a number of languages, including English, French, Spanish and German.

Translated by Chae-Pyong Song and Anne Rashid

Chunhyang’s Words: Part One,
Conversing while Swinging by Seo Jung-ju

Hyangdan, push the swing
toward the faraway sea
like you are pushing out a boat,
Hyangdan

Away from this gently swaying weeping willow
and a patch of wildflowers
that seem to be embroidered on my pillow cover,
away from these small butterflies and nightingales,
like you are pushing away forever,
Hyangdan

Push me up
toward that sky where there is no coral or isle.
Push me up like the colorful clouds.
Push up my heaving heart!
No matter what I do, I cannot travel
to the west like the moon.

Like the wind pushes up the waves,
push me up,
Hyangdan.

추천사(鞦韆詞) – 춘향의 말 1 /서정주

향단(香丹)아, 그넷줄을 밀어라.
머언 바다로
배를 내어 밀듯이,
향단아

이 다소곳이 흔들리는 수양버들 나무와
베갯모에 뇌이듯한 풀꽃더미로부터,
자잘한 나비새끼 꾀꼬리들로부터
아조 내어 밀듯이, 향단아

산호(珊瑚)도 섬도 없는 저 하늘로
나를 밀어올려다오.
채색(彩色)한 구름같이 나를 밀어올려다오
이 울렁이는 가슴을 밀어 올려 다오!
서(西)으로 가는 달 같이는
나는 아무래도 갈 수가 없다.

바람이 파도를 밀어 올리듯이
그렇게 나를 밀어올려다오.
향단아.

<서정주 시선> (정음사, 1956)

Seo Jeong-ju (1915 – 2000) was born in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. He is considered the founding father of modern Korean poetry. Under the pen name Midang, he published at least 15 collections of poetry. He taught Korean literature at Chosun University, among others. He was also nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. His grandmother’s stories and his interest in Buddhism had a strong influence upon his writing. His works have been translated into a number of languages, including English, French, Spanish and German.