Jeong Ho-seung's poem (14)
Become a Person Who Produces Hope
Translated by Brother Anthony and Susan Hwang
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At times when everyone in the world is asleep,
when even dreams are asleep, confined in darkness,
become a person who walks regarding the stars,
not afraid of the dawn that has risen alone;
become a person who produces hope.
Tonight, too, with snow falling, no way of return
as winter’s night grows ever darker,
in a dark room with a guttering candle
near a workplace where the day’s work is done,
become a person loving sorrow;
If you live life loving this world of despair, that lacks even despair,
this world of sorrow, that lacks even sorrow, then spring snow falls.
Out in the snow, on encountering long-expected expectancy,
out in the snow, on encountering long-yearned-for yearning,
exclaim aloud, embrace and laugh;
exclaim aloud, rub cheeks and weep.
On becoming a person who walks regarding the stars,
on becoming a person who produces hope,
you who walk along paths across barley fields where spring snow falls,
everyone, come running, whole-heartedly
welcome dreams.
Welcome dreams.
The paradox in this poem is the way it combines sorrow with hope. The life we should be living is not one devoid of pain and problems, instead, the poem says, it is in the midst of sorrow and even despair that joy come, the ability to truly unite with others in the same difficulty and who refuse to give up, instead gazing up at the stars and dreaming.