밤에 용서라는 말을 들었다

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나는 나무에 묶여있었다. 숲은 검고 짐승의 울음 뜨거웠다. 마을은 불빛 한 점 내비치지 않았다. 어서 빠져나가야 한다. 몸을 뒤틀며 나무를 밀어댔지만 세상모르고 잠들었던 새 떨어져내려 어쩔 줄 몰라 퍼드득인다. 발등에 깃털이 떨어진다. 오, 놀라워라. 보드랍고 따뜻해. 가여워라. 내가 그랬구나. 어서 다시 잠들거라. 착한 아기. 나는 나를 나무에 묶어 놓은 자가 누구인지 생각지 않으련다. 작은 새 놀란 숨소리 가라앉는 것 지키며 나도 그만 잠들고 싶구나.

누구였을까. 낮고도 느린 목소리. 은은한 향내에 싸여. 고요하게 사라지는 흰 옷자락. 부드러운 노래 남기는. 누구였을까. 이 한밤중에.

새는 잠들었구나. 나는 방금 어디에서 놓여 난듯하다. 어디를 갔다 온 것일까. 한기까지 더해 이렇게 묶여있는데. 꿈을 꿨을까. 그 눈동자 맑은 샘물은. 샘물에 엎드려 막 한 모금 떠 마셨을 때, 그 이상한 전언. 용서. 아, 그럼. 내가 그 말을 선명히 기억해 내는 순간 나는 나무 기둥에서 천천히 풀려지고 있었다. 새들이 잠에서 깨며 깃을 치기 시작했다. 숲은 새벽빛을 깨닫고 일어설 채비를 하고 있었다.

얼굴 없던 분노여. 사자처럼 포효하던 분노여. 산맥을 넘어 질주하던 증오여. 세상에서 가장 큰 눈을 한 공포여. 강물도 목을 죄던 어둠이여. 허옇고 허옇다던 절망이여. 내 너에게로 가노라. 질기고도 억센 밧줄을 풀고. 발등에 깃털을 얹고 꽃을 들고. 돌아가거라. 부드러이 가라앉거라. 풀밭을 눕히는 순결한 바람이 되어. 바람을 물들이는 하늘빛 오랜 영혼이 되어.

At night the Word 'Forgive' was Heard

                                      Lee jin Myeong

I was bound to a tree. It was a black forest and wild beastsroar was hot. Village was not hinting a dot of light. Should get out in no time. Twisting my body and shoving the tree about, but make only a dead-asleep bird falls down and beasts its wings beside itself. Feathers fall on my instep. Oh, the wonder, of tenderness and warmth. The sorriness, of my having done. Please get to sleep again. Tenderhearted baby. I am going not to think about who bound me to a tree. Protecting a surprised birds breathing sound quieten down me too would get to sleep again without doing anything.

Who that was? A voice low-pitched and slow. Wrapped in faint fragrance, calmly vanishing white robe ends. Leaving a soft melody behind. Who was that. In this middle of the night.

Bird is asleep again. Right now I feel released from somewhere. Where I have been to? With cold added and bounded like this, I wonder I have had a dream. That clear-eyed spring water was. Lying on my face and having drunk a sip of water then heard that strange message. Forgive. Oh, sure. The moment I recalled distinctly that word I was being released from tree trunk slowly. Birds awakened from sleep to begin beating feathers. The forest sensing the daybreaking light was getting ready to rise up.

You Furies that were faceless. Furies that roared like a lion. Hatred that was speeding over a mountain range. Horror with world's largest eye. You darkness with which even a river was choking its neck. Despairs said to be quite pale and pale. I say I come to you. Undoing the most durable and tough rope. With feathers on instep and flowers in hands. Please return you. Quiet down tender. Having become the grass-laying pure wind. Having become a wind-dyeing skyblue-old soul.

                                                                         Translated by Kim Jung Whan

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