Saturday, January 14, 2017

A Dark Red Tomato - Cheon Yoon-ho



검붉은 토마토
전윤호

익혀서 먹으려고
파란 토마토를
내장고에 넣어 두었다
어느날 문득 생각나 꺼내니
새빨갛게 익은 한쪽은
검게 썩어 있었다
나이 사십니 되니
조금 알 것 같다
제때 먹지 않으면
시간에게 먹힌다는 것을
 
Key Vocabulary
익히다: age, ferment, mature; 익다1(3. 김치, 술, 장 따위가 맛이 들다)’의 사동사.
썩다: rot, decay, decompose; 유기물이 부패 세균에 의하여 분해됨으로써 원래의 성질을 잃어 나쁜 냄새가 나고 형체...
제때: right time, right moment, right occasion; 알맞은 때.
먹히다: be eaten; 먹게 되다

A Dark Red Tomato
By Cheon Yoon-ho

Ripened for eating
The green tomato
Was placed in the refrigerator

One day I suddenly remember and take it out
Once bright red and ripe on the side
It is now black with decay

Turning thirty years old
I think I understand
If you don't eat it at the right moment
It will be eaten by time 

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I have mixed feelings about this poem. I read it two years ago at school and was unsettled about the idea that someone at thirty-years-old was no longer considered "ripe." U.S. culture is slowly changing, with many people choosing to settle down later but I think this concept persists.  Cheon Yoon-ho is a male poet, which may or may not be indicative of the continued sexism in South Korea. 

Feel free to comment below with your thoughts, comments or suggestions!

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