Poem "The Fox-Nan Tribe" / Baek Seok - korean poem
Page Info
Writer sasasak_AndyKim
Hit 683 Hits
Date 24-12-25 15:01
Content
"The Fox-Nan Tribe" / Baek Seok
On the day of the holiday, I followed my mother and father,
Our family dog followed me,
To the big house where my great-grandmother and great-grandfather lived.
There was a household across a field,
Where a girl named Lee Nyeo lived,
Her face dotted delicately with freckles.
With her blinking eyes and quiet demeanor,
She spun a roll of silk in a single day.
Lee Nyeo, a sixteen-year-old girl,
Became the second wife of a widower over forty.
Her skin was radiant like polished clay,
Her lips and nipples darker still.
She was the daughter of Shinri Auntie,
From a peach tree-rich village near a Christian hamlet.
Another daughter of Auntie Shinri, Seung Nyeo,
Had a son, Seung Dong.
Sixty ri away, across the faintly visible mountains by the sea,
There lived Auntie Tosan’s daughter, Hong Nyeo.
Widowed early, her red-tipped nose and perpetual white attire told her story.
Hong Nyeo often cried quietly at the end of her sentences,
Living with her sons, Hong Dong and little Hong Dong,
In the Great Valley.
There were also cousins skilled in grafting pear trees,
Known for pulling out yard stones when drunk,
And their love for venturing to distant islands for bandijot (fermented fish sauce).
The big house, full of relatives,
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and others,
Was alive with the scent of new clothes.
The fragrance of rice cakes, injeolmi, red bean cakes,
And powdered soybean cakes filled the air.
Cold dishes like tofu, bean sprouts, stir-fried bracken,
And pork belly were served, their freshness intact.
As evening fell, children played in the courtyard,
Among the pear orchard.
They played tag, hide-and-seek,
“Riding to a wedding” and “marriage games,”
Laughter echoing late into the night.
Inside, mothers gathered to laugh and chat in the inner room.
The children, huddled together in another room,
Played games like "joajeol," "bariggae rolling,"
And other lively amusements under the dim ceramic lamp.
The wick was trimmed several times,
The rooster crowed multiple times.
When sleep came, the children tussled for space,
Falling asleep in fits of giggles and whispers.
By morning, the window panes cast shadows of branches,
And the bustling kitchen was filled with the aroma of boiling muijjigae soup.
From cracks in the kitchen door and screen door,
The savory scent drifted in as we slept soundly.
여우난골족族 / 백석
명절날 나는 엄매 아배 따라 우리집 개는 나를 따라 진할머니 진할아버지가 있는 큰집으로 가면
얼굴에 별자국이 솜솜 난 말수와 같이 눈도 껌벅거리는 하로에 베 한 필을 짠다는 벌 하나 건너 집엔 복숭아나무가 많은 신리新里 고무 고무의 딸 이녀李女 작은 이녀李女
열여섯에 사십四十이 넘은 홀아비의 후처가 된 포족족하니 성이 잘 나는 살빛이 매감탕 같은 입술과 젖꼭지는 더 까만 예수쟁이 마을 가까이 사는 토산土山고무 고무의 딸 승녀承女 아들 승承동이
육십리六十里라고 해서 파랗게 뵈이는 산山을 넘어 있다는 해변에서 과부가 된 코끝이 빨간 언제나 흰옷이 정하든 말끝에 섧게 눈물을 짤 때가 많은 큰골 고무 고무의 딸 홍녀洪女 아들 홍洪동이 작은홍洪동이
배나무 접을 잘하는 주정을 하면 토방돌을 뽑는 오리치를 잘 놓는 먼 섬에 반디젓 담그러 가기를 좋아하는 삼춘 삼춘엄매 사춘누이 사춘동생들
이 그득히들 할머니 할아버지가 있는 안간에들 모여서 방안에서는 새 옷의 내음새가 나고
또 인절미 송구떡 콩가루차떡의 내음새도 나고 끼때의 두부와 콩나물과 뽂은 잔디와 고사리와 도야지비계는 모두 선득선득하니 찬 것들이다
저녁술을 놓은 아이들은 외양간섶 밭마당에 달린 배나무동산에서 쥐잡이를 하고 숨굴막질을 하고 꼬리잡이를 하고 가마 타고 시집가는 놀음 말 타고 장가가는 놀음을 하고 이렇게 밤이 어둡도록 북적하니 논다
밤이 깊어가는 집안엔 엄매는 엄매들끼리 아르간에서들 웃고 이야기하고 아이들은 아이들끼리 웃간 한 방을 잡고 조아질하고 쌈방이 굴리고 바리깨돌림하고 호박떼기하고 제비손이구손이하고 이렇게 화디의 사기방등에 심지를 멫 번이나 돋구고 홍게닭이 멫 번이나 울어서 졸음이 오면 아릇목싸움 자리싸움을 하며 히드득거리다 잠이 든다 그래서는 문창에 텅납새의 그림자가 치는 아츰 시누이 동세들이 욱적하니 흥성거리는 부엌으론 샛문틈으로 장지문틈으로 무이징게국을 끓이는 맛있는 내음새가 올라오도록 잔다
Baek Seok's "The Fox-Nan Tribe" is a poem that vividly portrays the traditional Korean holiday scene with delicate and lyrical descriptions. It captures the warmth of a large family gathering and the rich, communal spirit of Korean culture. Here’s an interpretation of the poem’s main themes and imagery in English:
1. A Family Gathering for the Holiday
The poem begins with the speaker following their parents to the large family house where their great-grandparents reside. This scene sets the stage for a traditional Korean holiday, evoking the collective joy and familial bonds that are central to such occasions.
2. Distinct Character Portraits
The poem introduces various family members with unique lives and stories:
Shinri Auntie and Lee Nyeo: Lee Nyeo, a sixteen-year-old girl, marries a widower over forty. Her physical beauty and life near a Christian hamlet are vividly described.
Tosan Auntie and Hong Nyeo: Hong Nyeo is a widow who carries her grief visibly, wearing white clothes and often crying quietly at the end of her sentences. She lives with her sons in the Great Valley.
Cousins: The poem mentions cousins skilled in pear grafting, pulling yard stones when drunk, and enjoying trips to distant islands for fermented fish sauce. These details reflect the rural life and varied personalities within the family.
3. Holiday Foods and Games
Inside the house, the scent of freshly made clothes mixes with the aroma of traditional holiday foods—rice cakes, tofu, bean sprouts, and pork belly—creating a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, children play lively games in the courtyard, including hide-and-seek, tag, and mock wedding ceremonies. Their laughter fills the night, encapsulating the joy of childhood.
4. Evening Togetherness
As night falls, the adults gather in one room to share stories and laughter, while the children play games in another room under the dim glow of a ceramic lamp. They eventually fall asleep amidst whispers, giggles, and friendly tussles for sleeping spots. The warm depiction of the family’s evening reflects the close-knit bonds and simple joys of communal life.
5. Morning Tranquility
Morning brings the aroma of muijjigae (a fish soup) wafting from the bustling kitchen. Shadows of branches cast patterns on the windows as the house awakens to the sound of busy preparations. This scene encapsulates the peaceful yet lively continuation of the holiday spirit.
Key Interpretation
This poem is more than a mere depiction of a holiday gathering. It captures the essence of traditional Korean family life, weaving together personal stories, sensory details, and the cultural fabric of a bygone era. Through its warm and vivid language, the poem invites readers to experience the beauty of community, the joy of shared traditions, and the enduring spirit of family ties.
On the day of the holiday, I followed my mother and father,
Our family dog followed me,
To the big house where my great-grandmother and great-grandfather lived.
There was a household across a field,
Where a girl named Lee Nyeo lived,
Her face dotted delicately with freckles.
With her blinking eyes and quiet demeanor,
She spun a roll of silk in a single day.
Lee Nyeo, a sixteen-year-old girl,
Became the second wife of a widower over forty.
Her skin was radiant like polished clay,
Her lips and nipples darker still.
She was the daughter of Shinri Auntie,
From a peach tree-rich village near a Christian hamlet.
Another daughter of Auntie Shinri, Seung Nyeo,
Had a son, Seung Dong.
Sixty ri away, across the faintly visible mountains by the sea,
There lived Auntie Tosan’s daughter, Hong Nyeo.
Widowed early, her red-tipped nose and perpetual white attire told her story.
Hong Nyeo often cried quietly at the end of her sentences,
Living with her sons, Hong Dong and little Hong Dong,
In the Great Valley.
There were also cousins skilled in grafting pear trees,
Known for pulling out yard stones when drunk,
And their love for venturing to distant islands for bandijot (fermented fish sauce).
The big house, full of relatives,
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and others,
Was alive with the scent of new clothes.
The fragrance of rice cakes, injeolmi, red bean cakes,
And powdered soybean cakes filled the air.
Cold dishes like tofu, bean sprouts, stir-fried bracken,
And pork belly were served, their freshness intact.
As evening fell, children played in the courtyard,
Among the pear orchard.
They played tag, hide-and-seek,
“Riding to a wedding” and “marriage games,”
Laughter echoing late into the night.
Inside, mothers gathered to laugh and chat in the inner room.
The children, huddled together in another room,
Played games like "joajeol," "bariggae rolling,"
And other lively amusements under the dim ceramic lamp.
The wick was trimmed several times,
The rooster crowed multiple times.
When sleep came, the children tussled for space,
Falling asleep in fits of giggles and whispers.
By morning, the window panes cast shadows of branches,
And the bustling kitchen was filled with the aroma of boiling muijjigae soup.
From cracks in the kitchen door and screen door,
The savory scent drifted in as we slept soundly.
여우난골족族 / 백석
명절날 나는 엄매 아배 따라 우리집 개는 나를 따라 진할머니 진할아버지가 있는 큰집으로 가면
얼굴에 별자국이 솜솜 난 말수와 같이 눈도 껌벅거리는 하로에 베 한 필을 짠다는 벌 하나 건너 집엔 복숭아나무가 많은 신리新里 고무 고무의 딸 이녀李女 작은 이녀李女
열여섯에 사십四十이 넘은 홀아비의 후처가 된 포족족하니 성이 잘 나는 살빛이 매감탕 같은 입술과 젖꼭지는 더 까만 예수쟁이 마을 가까이 사는 토산土山고무 고무의 딸 승녀承女 아들 승承동이
육십리六十里라고 해서 파랗게 뵈이는 산山을 넘어 있다는 해변에서 과부가 된 코끝이 빨간 언제나 흰옷이 정하든 말끝에 섧게 눈물을 짤 때가 많은 큰골 고무 고무의 딸 홍녀洪女 아들 홍洪동이 작은홍洪동이
배나무 접을 잘하는 주정을 하면 토방돌을 뽑는 오리치를 잘 놓는 먼 섬에 반디젓 담그러 가기를 좋아하는 삼춘 삼춘엄매 사춘누이 사춘동생들
이 그득히들 할머니 할아버지가 있는 안간에들 모여서 방안에서는 새 옷의 내음새가 나고
또 인절미 송구떡 콩가루차떡의 내음새도 나고 끼때의 두부와 콩나물과 뽂은 잔디와 고사리와 도야지비계는 모두 선득선득하니 찬 것들이다
저녁술을 놓은 아이들은 외양간섶 밭마당에 달린 배나무동산에서 쥐잡이를 하고 숨굴막질을 하고 꼬리잡이를 하고 가마 타고 시집가는 놀음 말 타고 장가가는 놀음을 하고 이렇게 밤이 어둡도록 북적하니 논다
밤이 깊어가는 집안엔 엄매는 엄매들끼리 아르간에서들 웃고 이야기하고 아이들은 아이들끼리 웃간 한 방을 잡고 조아질하고 쌈방이 굴리고 바리깨돌림하고 호박떼기하고 제비손이구손이하고 이렇게 화디의 사기방등에 심지를 멫 번이나 돋구고 홍게닭이 멫 번이나 울어서 졸음이 오면 아릇목싸움 자리싸움을 하며 히드득거리다 잠이 든다 그래서는 문창에 텅납새의 그림자가 치는 아츰 시누이 동세들이 욱적하니 흥성거리는 부엌으론 샛문틈으로 장지문틈으로 무이징게국을 끓이는 맛있는 내음새가 올라오도록 잔다
Baek Seok's "The Fox-Nan Tribe" is a poem that vividly portrays the traditional Korean holiday scene with delicate and lyrical descriptions. It captures the warmth of a large family gathering and the rich, communal spirit of Korean culture. Here’s an interpretation of the poem’s main themes and imagery in English:
1. A Family Gathering for the Holiday
The poem begins with the speaker following their parents to the large family house where their great-grandparents reside. This scene sets the stage for a traditional Korean holiday, evoking the collective joy and familial bonds that are central to such occasions.
2. Distinct Character Portraits
The poem introduces various family members with unique lives and stories:
Shinri Auntie and Lee Nyeo: Lee Nyeo, a sixteen-year-old girl, marries a widower over forty. Her physical beauty and life near a Christian hamlet are vividly described.
Tosan Auntie and Hong Nyeo: Hong Nyeo is a widow who carries her grief visibly, wearing white clothes and often crying quietly at the end of her sentences. She lives with her sons in the Great Valley.
Cousins: The poem mentions cousins skilled in pear grafting, pulling yard stones when drunk, and enjoying trips to distant islands for fermented fish sauce. These details reflect the rural life and varied personalities within the family.
3. Holiday Foods and Games
Inside the house, the scent of freshly made clothes mixes with the aroma of traditional holiday foods—rice cakes, tofu, bean sprouts, and pork belly—creating a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, children play lively games in the courtyard, including hide-and-seek, tag, and mock wedding ceremonies. Their laughter fills the night, encapsulating the joy of childhood.
4. Evening Togetherness
As night falls, the adults gather in one room to share stories and laughter, while the children play games in another room under the dim glow of a ceramic lamp. They eventually fall asleep amidst whispers, giggles, and friendly tussles for sleeping spots. The warm depiction of the family’s evening reflects the close-knit bonds and simple joys of communal life.
5. Morning Tranquility
Morning brings the aroma of muijjigae (a fish soup) wafting from the bustling kitchen. Shadows of branches cast patterns on the windows as the house awakens to the sound of busy preparations. This scene encapsulates the peaceful yet lively continuation of the holiday spirit.
Key Interpretation
This poem is more than a mere depiction of a holiday gathering. It captures the essence of traditional Korean family life, weaving together personal stories, sensory details, and the cultural fabric of a bygone era. Through its warm and vivid language, the poem invites readers to experience the beauty of community, the joy of shared traditions, and the enduring spirit of family ties.