“Love Song” Translated by Suphil Lee Park

issue 92 cover

Found in Willow Springs 92

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사랑 노래

BY HEO NANSEOLHEON (허난설헌)

 

공령탄 입구에 비가 처음 개니
무협은 창창하고 안개 구름처럼 평평해
한이 많아라, 임의 마음 조수와도 같으니
이른 시간 잠시 물러갔다 저물 다시 오네

LOVE SONG

TRANSLATED BY SUPHIL LEE PARK

 

Rapids takes a pleasure boat
Blue or bluer fog clouds all
Good grief—your heart too is tides
Ebbs at dawn, returns at dusk

 

Translator's Notes

Love Song: Literally translated, the title refers to a specific verse form (that mostly has to do with love story poetry and folktales) that usually consists of four stanzas. This poem is the first stanza of a longer poem.

Rapids: 空舲灘 refers to a specific river, but 空舲 also means a pleasure boat, so the first three characters are intended for a double meaning and would bring to mind a pleasure boat on this river. 

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