Sample Translations
Soo-dong Lee Three Cheer for You E ng l i s h
Book Information
Three Cheer for You (오늘 수고했어요) Artbooks Publishing corp. / 2013 / 10 p. / ISBN 9788961961479 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
Three Cheer for You Written by Lee, Soo-dong
It is not easy to “empty” your busy mind and body and to take a rest, Is it? Yet without emptying them You cannot put new things in them, This would be like trying to bring new stuff into a room already full of old furniture. Resting. . . That is another word for “very joyful preparation” For wonderful works for you to do and wonderful people for you to meet. Therefore, please empty yourself.
Chapter 1: A Comma
“Please Wait for Another minute on the Cloud” Dear Madame, Please wait for another minute on the cloud. I didn’t expect that you would accept my invitation so quickly. I was laying down a silk carpet as fast as I could for you to walk on, Yet I did not finish rolling it out on the river bank. Please stay on the cloud for a little longer and Come down from there as slowly as possible.
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“Over A Cup of Tea on the Cloud” Both you and I, We were doing great. Once in a while, On sunny days like this, Let’s, Let us meet Over a cup of tea. Or preferably over a glass of wine.
“Mirror, Mirror, Who Do You Say is the Happiest person in the World?” “Mirror, mirror, Who do you say is the happiest person in the world?” You ask. . Without a modicum of hesitation, the mirror says to you, “It’s you!”
“I Am a Flower” I am a flower. Every morning Blooming in a flower pot by your window, Living on the morning sunlight and your love, I am a flower.
“Lee Chun-pung”
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What shall I do with this spring wind? How hard the willow trees1, which are known to be disciplined, Swirl like that, So I who have led a loose life. . . Surely will run along in that wind. . 3 “Because You Are Coming on the Night of a Full Moon. . .” Upon hearing that you are coming, I made a carpet out of cloud for a month and Have planted flower seeds on it. I will send it to you. Please take the carpet when you come. I wish you would come tonight, Because the moon light is so bright. I will go ahead and wait for you On the plain where we met together for the first time.
“Flying in the Wind” My heart aches, Why is her hair flying in the wind? Is she going to fly away in the wind? Is it because she resembles a flower? I wonder if she knows My eyes are always watching her.
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Part of the Korean word for “willow tree” has the same letters as that for the verb “discipline.”
“A Letter” I received a letter As long as a deep autumn night. She wrote it. Without a second thought I packed my stuff. I hurried to return home, On the way home, I found her coming out ahead and waiting for me. Oh, this is a fall full of flowers.
“A Present” To you who go and follow the wind I would like to give a present. A piece of cloud. This is my way of cheering you, So that you may be free on high.
“On a Sunny Day, I Would Like to Be a Chair for You” On a sunny day, When you would like to get rid of your burden And rest for a while, I would like to be a chair for you. I may not be an expensive one, But I will be a chair which will always be there for you.
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“Moon Flower Rain” If she sings a song, The moon sheds a rain of flowers. For a long time the moon has been watching her. So it knows well why she comes to visit at night And sings a sad song; It sheds the rain tonight again. Pitter, patter—it is a comforting rain of flowers, So it is a Moon flower rain.
“Autumn Sonata” I am a tree, A sensitive one. That’s why I change four times in a year. Yet I would never leave my place and all the time stay there. Notwithstanding thousands of gusts of wind passing me I would always stay right there. Why have I not
thought of getting away,
Following the wind? As long as you are watching me, however, I am your tree. Now I am a tree of the deep autumn Who longs for only you.
“That Summer Day”
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I am remembering that beautiful summer. Walking up from a distance, You looked like a red rose surrounded by baby’s-breath. In front of you the bouquet of roses in my hand looked plain. On that summer day we lost track of the time As we were sitting on a bench in a grove of birch trees. A cloud was a work of art Singing and dancing on the blue screen of sky. So were the gentle waves which were shining like jewels, Weren’t they? Now our children are all grown up And we are in our middle years. I am remembering that summer day. Without saying another word, Let’s go there once again tomorrow. You are wearing a red dress And a white bolero jacket, carrying a white parasol with a floral pattern with you.
“Romantic Mr. Lee” When we had a bomb of snow, Merrily and romantically My dad cleaned up the snow in front of the house. Although it turned out be impossible, My poor father Dreamed of raising his three sons like flowers.
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The one who most resembles that romantic father is I.
“We Are Dancing on a Flower” Dear mom, you did a great job. Honey, I am always thankful to you. My two dear daughters, I love you. I don’t know much about how people live. But even though we spare ourselves and shrink from the cold of a snowy field, We dance On a flower.
“Take a rest. So Will I”
Last Sunday, I went to the Home Something which is believed to benefit housekeeping. Because it is summer, the season for short pants, I bought ankle socks. Buying three pairs of them was cheaper. When I brought them back and unpacked them in my studio, I found a little plastic clip. Look at the shape! The piece of plastic had a funny shape, so I decided to keep it. As I don’t feel like painting today, I take out that little guy and play with it, Turing it into a swan which is dozing in a pond. All right!
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Take a rest, Swan. So will I.
“To Go and Meet You” There is a village where live Those people whose hearts were hurt and who decided to turn their backs on the world. The village is deep in the heart of the mountains. How fragile is the heart; Those who I left behind,
Why wouldn’t I miss them a bit? In the middle of a winter night, with no more than an impulse, I wrote a letter. Unnoticed and beyond the verge of the village I go and meet you. Please understand that I can stay only for a short time. Thank you for coming a long way to meet me. And for the gift of gloves and scarf I am really thankful to you.
“In Our House” Just happy and satisfied are we in our house. Flowers are in full blossom in the field and The pleasant story of you and me Is flying to the sky On wings.
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They do so all day and night.
“Sea” If you feel low for some reason, you should go to the East Sea. I strongly recommend that you go to the Anmok beach in Gangneung-si and Go and enjoy a cup of espresso leisurely In one of the barista-owned cafés. . . The emerald colored water, The sound of white waves breaking on the shore, Looking at and listening to them, take deep breaths, And then shout twelve times, “You are the best.” If you feel shy, you can say it to yourself. Then for the next twelve weeks you will surely be the best. After that? Well… Go to the beach again. Visit the beach in every season; that is exactly what I mean.
“Happy All Year Round” We are happy all year round. It is so because of you, my beautiful wife, and Our jewel-like child. The loving words which we share with each other One after another grow into Love flowers on the branches of the twelve months. Soon,
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All the world is full of the fragrance of flowers. Let me boast about it again. We are joyful and happy all year round. Honey, I love you.
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