Korean Short Stories
Moon Taejun Someone Came to Visit 누가 울고 간다 Translated by Min Eungyeong
Information This work was previously published in New Writing from Korea . Please contact the LTI Korea Library. library@klti.or.kr
About Moon Taejun Moon's poems employ a comforting language to soothe the wounds of the soul. His poems seek to assuage the pains of those suffering from the violence and oppression of a heartless society. He values "conversation" highly, emphasizing full empathy between two existences, such as when he says, "That over there, is in me here; and I here, am in that over there. Let me respect that which is not me, and therefore those things that are me." The poet aspires to a state in which the subject and object are not distinct form one another, but fused together. In this respect, Moon carries on the traditional lyrical tradition. Newly emerging poets too often look askance at the old lyricism, seeking instead new language suited to the tastes of the present age; but the result is often an idiosyncratic poetry that is difficult for the reader to understand. Moon’s poetry tacitly challenges this trend, and embodies hope for easy communication with the world through language steeped in lyricism. His poetry employs familiar subjects from the natural world such as flowers, trees, falling leaves and paths, and people from everyday life such as wife, child, and sufferer. But in the familiarity emerges the unique individuality of the poet, bringing to our awareness the fact that the familiar is not “old.” His work has been translated in The Growth of a Shadow detail, and the The American Reader. LTI Korea eLibrary: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/132
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Someone Came to Visit The snow that fell in bells all night has stopped I stand alone my thoughts are far Small bird, red-breasted bird on the vine You came and wept Suddenly you are gone Why did you leave so suddenly leaving me no time to call your name Your cry is tender, tender like winter light passing through the papered door Who is it that draws up that cry from my ear Someone once came to visit left tears Dyed red in my heart No one can now remove
Copyright 2008 Literature Translation Institute of Korea
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