Poem Translation: Ghost in the Water - Cheon Yoon-ho

물귀신
전윤호

내가 먼저 빠졌다
만만하게 봤는데
목숨보다 깊었다
어차피 수영금지구역이었다
어설프게 손 내밀다
그도 빠진 건
누구의 탓도 아니었다
서로 나가기 위해서
발목을 잡아당겼다
나는 안다
숨이 막히고
심장이 부서지는 고통을
우리는 익사할 것이다
바닥에 즐비한
다른 연인들처럼
하지만 누가 뭐라 해도
내가 먼저 빠졌다

/전윤호 시집, 연애소설, 다시, 2005/


Ghost in the Water
Cheon Yoon-ho

I was the one who fell first

It was deeper than I anticipated
Deeper than I could hold my breath

In any case, swimming was prohibited there

I extended a shaky hand  

It was no one's fault
that I fell

My ankle was pulled
So that we could go together

I knew

Gasping for breath
The pain of a heart breaking
It would be our drowning

In rows along the bottom
Like one's different lovers

However, no matter what anyone says
I was the one who fell first