[57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Poetry Commendation Award: There Was a Fire
Written by An Hee-yeon Translated by Park Se-yeon There Was a Fire He figured the day had turned chill, and also felt a bit alone. Today, I'll light a fire, he thought. He laid dry sticks together and lit them. Fire, rise, fire— he hummed a song, he dreamed of a fire that would not hurt, not a fire that devours but the one that allows, not a fire that scorches but the one that allows. Even here,…
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In the 57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, the Poetry Commendation Award was presented to An Hee-yeon for her translation of "There Was a Fire" by Park Se-yeon. The poem describes a personal reflection on life, death, and the resilience of the human spirit.
The poet begins by contemplating his chilly surroundings and a sense of loneliness. He then decides to kindle a fire, humming a song as he imagines a fire that brings warmth rather than destruction. Despite the arrival of others seeking shelter from the cold, the poet recounts how stories began through shared palm lines and unnoticed connections.
As the sun and moon bid farewell, the poet watches weeds grow and a stray dog reclaim its soul. He lulls himself to sleep, still haunted by the memory of a self that died inside. The fire, extinguished long ago, still lingers, refusing to be silenced.
In a poignant twist, the poet dresses head to toe in flour, stepping into the square to expose his sorrow. He had hidden his umbrella in his bag earlier, ready to embrace the rain and proclaim his unyielding spirit. The poem concludes with a powerful message of resilience, asserting that one cannot shatter nor disintegrate in the face of adversity.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
