"Five or Six Islands" Translated into Korean

Five or Six Islands (오륙도) in Busan, South Korea. Photo - Irina Moga

I am thrilled to see my poem "Five or Six Islands" translated into Korean.

This poem is the opening poem in my newest book, "Quantum" and the fact that I placed it there reflects its importance to me.

The poem has been inspired my travels in South Korea, by the Korean culture, and written as a direct response to Hwang Byungki's masterpiece, "Spring Song."

In a metaphorical way, "Five or Six Islands" talks about the beauty of Korean traditional music, of the string instrument kayageum (가야금) about Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and about 오륙도 (Five or Six islands) in Busan.

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Photo - irina Moga

My view of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in the poem:

*

from the vantage point of a fortress,

where I am left,            binoculars in hand,

—    useless in the face of blinding squalls,

 

I sense a deceleration:

 

we are besieged by snowflake variations.

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, Eastern Command Post. Photo - Irina Moga

Here is the link to the translation page which also includes my original poem in English.

https://www.cnpnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=5620&fbclid=IwY2xjawLZKTlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFrVXdjRzNha2YxUGNMREFjAR4CSM7KPQNQ5uXKuTm9xMHC0PwlHF6I0Uv9TBA9D1KfK8BtkEqKNE9HmmzCYw_aem_mL1HcM4mXsdD3kQhred96A

Monument for Admiral Yi Sun-Shin, Seoul. Photo - Irina Moga