Korean Short Stories
Wi Sun Hwan Tamjin River 18 탐진강18 Translated by Song Jaepyeong
Information This work was previously published in New Writing from Korea . Please contact the LTI Korea Library. library@klti.or.kr
Tamjin River 18 The swarm of insects rubs against the sky with their wingsthey wore out and all fell down, and now the stars are buzzing. The stream of the river is bright; so are the insteps of my feet. On a pitch dark night that blackened my eyes and ears, I walked, groping my way, following the stream that flowed slower than my steps, How long did I walk? With a gait slower than the stream, how long did I listen for the footsteps following me with steps slower than mine? At midnight a constellation would descend upon my back. I continued to walk along, following the stream. A few stars floating down the water flickered and looked back at me, anxiously murmuring many wordsI couldn't even comprehend one or two of them. The river's bottom was packed with stars.
Copyright 2009 Literature Translation Institute of Korea
1