[57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Poetry Commendation Award: To Unfold a Bird

In Noh Hye-yeon's translation of Lee Su-myeong's poem "How to Fall Under the Minari Family," a commendation was awarded for its poetic quality. The poem begins with a bird following a multitude of birds, passing through them without any disturbance. The birds are agitated as the speaker moves a rock, causing the birds to enter and leave the rock, while the speaker observes their behavior.

The speaker then reflects on their daily interaction with minari, which they wake up each morning and personify. The speaker perceives an incomprehensible function, observing the rhythms of minari as they stand still, like an exception. The poem describes minari as a rhythm within a chaotic framework, and the speaker's attempt to integrate and repair minari ultimately fails, as they are merely a small part of a larger machine.

The poem concludes with the minari family shrinking and emitting an unpleasant odor. Despite this, the speaker still wakes up minari, emphasizing their ongoing relationship with the minari family. The speaker acknowledges that minari are insignificant within the mechanical arrangement, but they continue to feel their presence and significance.