[단시] Ode to Unprecedented Spring

One day while taking a walk with my dog in the neighborhood  garden, I found a petit bamboo grove is dancing and singing in a chilly wind.

Really, in the midst of COVID-19 outbreak, we were expecting a beautiful Spring.

 

Petit bamboo grove is dancing. 

Chilly wind is blowing.

Spring has come.

대숲이 춤을 춘다
꽃샘바람이 쏴~
봄이 왔다

 

It reminds me of my trip to Osaka and Kyoto in October 2019.

At that time, the world famous Kyoto bamboo forest was impressive and beautiful. 

Once upon a time, a poet (古鄉) stopped on the spot to write a poem, 17-sylable haiku.

 

노미야 신사(神社)

죽림(竹林)의 아름다움

봄비에 젖네

The beauty of bamboo grove

at Nomiya shrine

is imbued by Spring rain.

 

野宮の   竹美しや   春しぐれ

 

These days no one is free from difficuties arising out of social distancing to deter coronavirus outbreak.

But nothing is more miserable than such event flowers as roses, carnations, freesias, etc. which are supposed to make flower bouquets for congratulations.

 

코로나의 맹위에

졸업식 입학식에 쓰일

꽃다발 모두 쓸모 없게됐네

Spreading COVID-19 has made

Huge bunches of flowers

for events useless

 

Sooner or later, the rampant coronavirus will disappear. Then it is expected for us to escape from this "Forlorn Spring (적막한 봄)" and to face a new different world.

Maybe, I feel like a renewed appetite when I've replaced my teeth with an implant.

 

Where a tooth is gone,

An implanted teeth revives

Forgotten appetite.

어금니 빠진 자리

임플란트를 하니

되살아난 식욕

 

Inside my house, there is no exception. Actually, spring has come. 

I was surpirsed to see two orchid pots start to bloom again. 

What I have done for them is just watering in a timely manner for years. Thanks a lot.

 

꽃이 진 후에도

물 주고 가꾸니

매년 보잔다

After flower’s gone,

Watering and caring

Ensure yearly blooming.

 

 

Azalea, harbinger of Spring,

Wide open the gate to

Flowers’ palace.

봄의 전령 진달래꽃

꽃대궐 문을

활짝 연다

 

 

Each spring,

My Father loved so much

the fragrance of lilac flowers.

새 봄이 되면

라이락 향을

좋아하신 아버지

When lilac blossoms,

ts fragrance reminds me of

the smile of Father.

해마다 봄철이면

아버지 미소가

떠오른다

 

* 미원 조영식 박사는 목련을 경희대 캠퍼스 곳곳에 심고 손수 "목련화" 노랫말을 지었다.

목련화

미원(美源) 선생님 애창곡

자목련도 좋다

Magnolia was

Miwon’s favorite song.

Furple one is good, too.

  

꽃나무는 기후와 토양에 따라 꽃을 피운다.

UCLA 방문교수 시절에 본 자목련은 1월에 꽃을 피웠다. 또 5월이면 마치 아카시아 나무에 등꽃이 핀 것같은 자카란다는 백인 치하 남아프리카 요하네스버그의 가로수였다.

자카란다 가로수를 베어 없애자는 주장에 "누가 심었건 가로수면 그만이지" 넬슨 만델라는 만류했다고 한다.

아무튼 신록(新綠)의 계절이 왔다.

 

화사한 백색 꽃잎

소리없는 초록의 진격

흩날리는 꽃비

Bursting white petals

Succumb to advancing green

Like flower rains.