Life is like crossing a swaying bridge of clouds
over a deep valley,
sharing each other’s warmth
as we endure fearful winds and move beyond them.
A single red rose
cannot contain all the fragrance of spring,
and a lone ship sailing across the vast sea
cannot overcome every wave in the world.
Therefore, our lives
are a journey of walking hand in hand beneath the stars,
countless eyes reflecting one another,
gently shining together even in the darkness.
인생은 깊은 계곡 위
흔들리는 구름다리를 건너는 일,
서로의 체온을 나누며
두려운 바람을 견디어 지나가는 일이다.
붉은 장미 한 송이로는
온 봄의 향기를 다 품을 수 없고,
넓은 바다를 항해하는 외로운 배 한 척으로는
세상의 모든 물결을 이겨낼 수 없다.
그러므로 우리의 삶은
별빛 아래 손을 맞잡고 함께 걷는 여정,
수많은 눈빛 서로를 비추며
어둠 속에서도 다정하게 반짝이는 일이다.
Poet Lee Min Sook is a pianist, poet, essayist, and lyricist. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Dante Literary Association and Publisher of Oseon Literary Publishing. She is also a board member of the Korean Writers’ Association and the Korean Modern Poets Association. In addition, she serves as Chief Judge of the Seoul Citizens’ Literary Award and as an editorial writer for Media Korea. She has received numerous literary honors, including the Grand Prize at the 9th Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Literary Awards. Poet Lee Min Sook has published six poetry collections, including Walking on the Staff, and has contributed her works to more than thirty literary magazines, journals, and writers’ anthologies.
