Poem Count the Stars at Night By Yoon Dong-ju
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Writer sasasak_AndyKim
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Date 24-12-25 17:42
Content
Count the Stars at Night
By Yoon Dong-ju
In the sky where seasons pass,
It is filled with autumn.
Without a single worry,
I feel I could count all the stars in the autumn night.
The reason I cannot count all the stars
That are etched one by one into my heart
Is because dawn comes too easily,
Because there is always another night to come,
And because my youth has not yet ended.
To each star, I give a memory,
To each star, I give love,
To each star, I give loneliness,
To each star, I give longing,
To each star, I give poetry,
To each star, I give my mother, my mother.
Mother, to each star, I call out one beautiful word.
The names of the children I shared desks with in elementary school,
Names of foreign girls like Pae, Kyung, and Ok,
Names of girls who have now become young mothers,
The names of my poor neighbors,
Pigeon, puppy, rabbit, mule, roe deer,
Francis Jammes, Rainer Maria Rilke,
And the names of poets like these, I call aloud.
All of them are so far away.
As distant as the stars themselves.
Mother,
And you, too, are far away, in Bukgando.
I don’t know why, but I feel an aching longing.
On the hill where all this starlight has poured down,
I write my name in the earth and cover it with soil.
Perhaps, the insects crying through the night
Do so because they mourn their shameful names.
But when winter passes and spring comes to my stars,
Like green grass sprouting on a grave,
The hill where my name is buried
Will grow lush with pride.
별 헤는 밤
계절이 지나가는 하늘에는
가을로 가득 차 있습니다.
나는 아무 걱정도 없이
가을 속의 별들을 다 헤일 듯합니다.
가슴 속에 하나 둘 새겨지는 별을 이제 다 못 헤는 것은
쉬이 아침이 오는 까닭이요,
내일 밤이 남은 까닭이요,
아직 나의 청춘이 다하지 않은 까닭입니다.
별 하나에 추억과
별 하나에 사랑과
별 하나에 쓸쓸함과
별 하나에 동경과
별 하나에 시와
별 하나에 어머니, 어머니,
어머님, 나는 별 하나에 아름다운 말 한마디씩 불러봅니다.
소학교 때 책상을 같이 했던 아이들의 이름과,
패, 경, 옥 이런 이국 소녀들의 이름과,
벌써 애기 어머님이 된 계집애들의 이름과,
가난한 이웃 사람들의 이름과,
비둘기, 강아지, 토끼, 노새, 노루, 프랑시스 쨈, 라이너 마리아 릴케,
이런 시인의 이름을 불러봅니다.
이네들은 너무나 멀리 있습니다.
별이 아스라이 멀듯이,
어머님,
그리고 당신은 멀리 북간도에 계십니다.
나는 무엇인지 그리워
이 많은 별빛이 나린 언덕 위에
내 이름자를 써보고, 흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다.
딴은, 밤을 새워 우는 벌레는
부끄러운 이름을 슬퍼하는 까닭입니다.
그러나 겨울이 지나고 나의 별에도 봄이 오면
무덤 위에 파란 잔디가 피어나듯이
내 이름자 묻힌 언덕 위에도
자랑처럼 풀이 무성할 거외다.
Yoon Dong-ju's "Counting the Stars at Night" is a lyrical poem filled with reflections on life, memories, love, and longing. It highlights the poet's introspection and profound connection with nature. Below is an interpretation of the poem in English.
1. "In the sky where seasons pass, / It is filled with autumn."
The passing sky, symbolizing the flow of time, is filled with autumn—a season that represents both maturity and melancholy. Through this imagery, the poet reflects on his emotions and contemplates his life with calm introspection.
2. "Without a single worry, / I feel I could count all the stars in the autumn night."
The act of counting stars is not merely a description of nature but a symbolic gesture of revisiting memories and the poet's life experiences. Immersing himself in this serene activity reveals a moment of pure, untroubled happiness.
3. "The reason I cannot count all the stars / That are etched one by one into my heart / Is because dawn comes too easily, / Because there is always another night to come, / And because my youth has not yet ended."
The inability to count all the stars signifies the transient nature of time and the poet's unfinished journey. The presence of more nights and his remaining youth reflect his optimism and hope for the future.
4. "To each star, I give a memory, / To each star, I give love, / To each star, I give loneliness, / To each star, I give longing, / To each star, I give poetry, / To each star, I give my mother, my mother."
Each star symbolizes a meaningful aspect of the poet's life—memories, emotions, aspirations, and cherished relationships. His repeated invocation of "my mother" highlights her deep significance in his life.
5. "All of them are so far away. / As distant as the stars themselves."
The poet acknowledges that all these memories, people, and emotions are now distant, much like the stars in the sky. This distance evokes a sense of longing and melancholy.
6. "I don’t know why, but I feel an aching longing. / On the hill where all this starlight has poured down, / I write my name in the earth and cover it with soil."
The poet feels an inexplicable longing and buries his name in the earth, symbolizing humility, a desire for transcendence, or a longing to become one with nature. It reflects both an acceptance of his mortality and a connection to eternity.
7. "But when winter passes and spring comes to my stars, / Like green grass sprouting on a grave, / The hill where my name is buried / Will grow lush with pride."
The transition from winter to spring symbolizes renewal and hope. Just as grass grows on a grave, the poet believes that life and pride will flourish even in the face of loss or death, emphasizing his enduring optimism and belief in life's cyclical nature.
Overall Interpretation
This poem explores the fleeting nature of life and the persistence of memories, even in the face of time and distance. The stars serve as a metaphor for the poet's dreams, relationships, and past experiences, which continue to shine in his heart despite their remoteness.
While the poet acknowledges the sorrow and loneliness that accompany life, he also embraces the hope and renewal that come with time. The imagery of stars, seasons, and nature conveys a profound sense of harmony between the human experience and the universe. Yoon Dong-ju’s quiet contemplation invites readers to reflect on their own lives, finding solace in the beauty of memories and the promise of renewal.
By Yoon Dong-ju
In the sky where seasons pass,
It is filled with autumn.
Without a single worry,
I feel I could count all the stars in the autumn night.
The reason I cannot count all the stars
That are etched one by one into my heart
Is because dawn comes too easily,
Because there is always another night to come,
And because my youth has not yet ended.
To each star, I give a memory,
To each star, I give love,
To each star, I give loneliness,
To each star, I give longing,
To each star, I give poetry,
To each star, I give my mother, my mother.
Mother, to each star, I call out one beautiful word.
The names of the children I shared desks with in elementary school,
Names of foreign girls like Pae, Kyung, and Ok,
Names of girls who have now become young mothers,
The names of my poor neighbors,
Pigeon, puppy, rabbit, mule, roe deer,
Francis Jammes, Rainer Maria Rilke,
And the names of poets like these, I call aloud.
All of them are so far away.
As distant as the stars themselves.
Mother,
And you, too, are far away, in Bukgando.
I don’t know why, but I feel an aching longing.
On the hill where all this starlight has poured down,
I write my name in the earth and cover it with soil.
Perhaps, the insects crying through the night
Do so because they mourn their shameful names.
But when winter passes and spring comes to my stars,
Like green grass sprouting on a grave,
The hill where my name is buried
Will grow lush with pride.
별 헤는 밤
계절이 지나가는 하늘에는
가을로 가득 차 있습니다.
나는 아무 걱정도 없이
가을 속의 별들을 다 헤일 듯합니다.
가슴 속에 하나 둘 새겨지는 별을 이제 다 못 헤는 것은
쉬이 아침이 오는 까닭이요,
내일 밤이 남은 까닭이요,
아직 나의 청춘이 다하지 않은 까닭입니다.
별 하나에 추억과
별 하나에 사랑과
별 하나에 쓸쓸함과
별 하나에 동경과
별 하나에 시와
별 하나에 어머니, 어머니,
어머님, 나는 별 하나에 아름다운 말 한마디씩 불러봅니다.
소학교 때 책상을 같이 했던 아이들의 이름과,
패, 경, 옥 이런 이국 소녀들의 이름과,
벌써 애기 어머님이 된 계집애들의 이름과,
가난한 이웃 사람들의 이름과,
비둘기, 강아지, 토끼, 노새, 노루, 프랑시스 쨈, 라이너 마리아 릴케,
이런 시인의 이름을 불러봅니다.
이네들은 너무나 멀리 있습니다.
별이 아스라이 멀듯이,
어머님,
그리고 당신은 멀리 북간도에 계십니다.
나는 무엇인지 그리워
이 많은 별빛이 나린 언덕 위에
내 이름자를 써보고, 흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다.
딴은, 밤을 새워 우는 벌레는
부끄러운 이름을 슬퍼하는 까닭입니다.
그러나 겨울이 지나고 나의 별에도 봄이 오면
무덤 위에 파란 잔디가 피어나듯이
내 이름자 묻힌 언덕 위에도
자랑처럼 풀이 무성할 거외다.
Yoon Dong-ju's "Counting the Stars at Night" is a lyrical poem filled with reflections on life, memories, love, and longing. It highlights the poet's introspection and profound connection with nature. Below is an interpretation of the poem in English.
1. "In the sky where seasons pass, / It is filled with autumn."
The passing sky, symbolizing the flow of time, is filled with autumn—a season that represents both maturity and melancholy. Through this imagery, the poet reflects on his emotions and contemplates his life with calm introspection.
2. "Without a single worry, / I feel I could count all the stars in the autumn night."
The act of counting stars is not merely a description of nature but a symbolic gesture of revisiting memories and the poet's life experiences. Immersing himself in this serene activity reveals a moment of pure, untroubled happiness.
3. "The reason I cannot count all the stars / That are etched one by one into my heart / Is because dawn comes too easily, / Because there is always another night to come, / And because my youth has not yet ended."
The inability to count all the stars signifies the transient nature of time and the poet's unfinished journey. The presence of more nights and his remaining youth reflect his optimism and hope for the future.
4. "To each star, I give a memory, / To each star, I give love, / To each star, I give loneliness, / To each star, I give longing, / To each star, I give poetry, / To each star, I give my mother, my mother."
Each star symbolizes a meaningful aspect of the poet's life—memories, emotions, aspirations, and cherished relationships. His repeated invocation of "my mother" highlights her deep significance in his life.
5. "All of them are so far away. / As distant as the stars themselves."
The poet acknowledges that all these memories, people, and emotions are now distant, much like the stars in the sky. This distance evokes a sense of longing and melancholy.
6. "I don’t know why, but I feel an aching longing. / On the hill where all this starlight has poured down, / I write my name in the earth and cover it with soil."
The poet feels an inexplicable longing and buries his name in the earth, symbolizing humility, a desire for transcendence, or a longing to become one with nature. It reflects both an acceptance of his mortality and a connection to eternity.
7. "But when winter passes and spring comes to my stars, / Like green grass sprouting on a grave, / The hill where my name is buried / Will grow lush with pride."
The transition from winter to spring symbolizes renewal and hope. Just as grass grows on a grave, the poet believes that life and pride will flourish even in the face of loss or death, emphasizing his enduring optimism and belief in life's cyclical nature.
Overall Interpretation
This poem explores the fleeting nature of life and the persistence of memories, even in the face of time and distance. The stars serve as a metaphor for the poet's dreams, relationships, and past experiences, which continue to shine in his heart despite their remoteness.
While the poet acknowledges the sorrow and loneliness that accompany life, he also embraces the hope and renewal that come with time. The imagery of stars, seasons, and nature conveys a profound sense of harmony between the human experience and the universe. Yoon Dong-ju’s quiet contemplation invites readers to reflect on their own lives, finding solace in the beauty of memories and the promise of renewal.