Translation:Does Spring Come, Even to Stolen Fields

Does Spring Come, Even to Stolen Fields (Written by Yi Sanghwa, translated by Jang Seokmin)

Stranger’s land for now—Does spring come even to stolen fields?

With my whole body in sunlight I bathe

Where the blue heavens meet the green fields

Walk dreamily through the paddy’s parted hair-like ways.

O skies and fields whose lips are pursed

In my heart it feels as if I didn’t come alone

Have you dragged Has someone called you

Choked I am, Oh do say a word.

As whispers in my ears, the breeze

Don’t stand a step, flapping cloth-hems

A skylark like a lady over the fence

smiling welcome behind the clouds, she.

O, barley fields thankfully well grown

by the soft rain of last night

you washed your hair linen-like, mine as fresh also.

I shall go pantingly even when alone

the kind trickles that embrace the dry paddies

sing the song soothing nursing babies and dances away alone.

Butterfly, Swallows, rush me not

Dandelions, violets I shall also greet

T’is the fields the one castor-oiled plucks, hence its everything I desire to see.

Have me grasp a plow

this soft soil like fat breasts

I would like to step until my ankle aches and even have a good sweat.

Like a child on river banks

O my soul that reaches limits not knowing its ranks

What do you seek Where have you gone How silly, answer me.

My whole body smells of grass.

between the blend of green joy and green sorrow.

I limp away the day, maybe the Spirit of Spring possessed.

But now—as the fields were stolen, now may spring be also.