Tony's Web
A Chrysanthemum
(국화 옆에서)
| poem by | Seo Jeong-ju (서정주) | |
|---|---|---|
| year of publication | 1947 | |
| poetry collection | Select Poems of Seo Jeong-ju (서정주 시선), 1956 |
| 국화 옆에서 | A Chrysanthemum | |
|---|---|---|
| 한 송이의 국화꽃을 피우기 위해 | Perhaps to flower a bloom of chrysanthemum | |
| 봄부터 소쩍새는 | the owl has been hooting | |
| 그렇게 울었나 보다. | so much ever since the spring. | |
| 한 송이의 국화꽃을 피우기 위해 | Perhaps to flower a bloom of chrysanthemum | |
| 천둥은 먹구름 속에서 | thunder has been roaring | |
| 또 그렇게 울었나 보다. | all this while in the black clouds. | |
| 그립고 아쉬움에 가슴 조이던 | A flower resembling my elder sister | |
| 머언 먼 젊음의 뒤안길에서 | who is now standing before a mirror, | |
| 인제는 돌아와 거울 앞에 선 | back from youth's distant byroads | |
| 내 누님같이 생긴 꽃이여. | of heartbreaking longing and regret. | |
| 노오란 네 꽃잎이 피려고 | For your yellow petals to blossom | |
| 간밤엔 무서리가 저리 내리고 | such a thick frost came down overnight | |
| 내게는 잠도 오지 않았나 보다. | and I couldn't get to sleep at all last night. |
| 국화 옆에서 |
|---|
| 한 송이의 국화꽃을 피우기 위해 |
| 봄부터 소쩍새는 |
| 그렇게 울었나 보다. |
| 한 송이의 국화꽃을 피우기 위해 |
| 천둥은 먹구름 속에서 |
| 또 그렇게 울었나 보다. |
| 그립고 아쉬움에 가슴 조이던 |
| 머언 먼 젊음의 뒤안길에서 |
| 인제는 돌아와 거울 앞에 선 |
| 내 누님같이 생긴 꽃이여. |
| 노오란 네 꽃잎이 피려고 |
| 간밤엔 무서리가 저리 내리고 |
| 내게는 잠도 오지 않았나 보다. |
| A Chrysanthemum |
|---|
| Perhaps to flower a bloom of chrysanthemum |
| the owl has been hooting |
| so much ever since the spring. |
| Perhaps to flower a bloom of chrysanthemum |
| thunder has been roaring |
| all this while in the black clouds. |
| A flower resembling my elder sister |
| who is now standing before a mirror, |
| back from youth's distant byroads |
| of heartbreaking longing and regret. |
| For your yellow petals to blossom |
| such a thick frost came down overnight |
| and I couldn't get to sleep at all last night. |
A Chrysanthemum (국화 옆에서) is from Seo Jeong-ju (서정주)'s third poetry collection Select Poems of Seo Jeong-ju published in 1956. The poetry in this collection show a more mellow and reflective side compared with the fiery and intense poetry in his earlier works. The intervening time might have broadened and matured the poets views of the world.
A Chrysanthemum (By a Chrysanthemum or Beside a Chrysanthemum in literal translation) can be described as a contemplative look at the world, sort of an all-knowing observation of the force that underlies seemingly unrelated manifestations of nature we see around us. The musing in this poem is thus often attributed to the Buddhist beliefs in determinism and karma, which is rather mythical to moderners accustomed to the prevalent science-dominated world view, unless one is already steeped in Buddhist teachings.
The work comes down to a subject more relatable in the third verse, about the narrator's sister who has returned from a long journey through her youth fraught with longings and regrets, and is now looking at herself in the mirror. This is the best part, in my opinion, of this popular poem, drawing the reader in to its imagery of angst-ridden ways of youth and later reflections on it, which is not only something everyone experiences in their life but likely the most fondly and wistfully remembered time of life. It is a stroke of genius to depict, in such brevity and balance, the hardly perceptible yet mysteriously real connection between the disparate natural events and these alternatingly intense and mature phases of our lives. The two main themes make an oddly familiar images in my mind, even as I don't clearly see why.
This is probably Seo Jeong-ju's best known and best loved work. Regardless of whether it is recognized as such by the critics, it is one every Korean learns in school and ends up loving in their youth. And I personally think it deserves every bit of the acclaim.
