The Loss of the Sewol

By Kihyeon Lee

The image of MV Sewol's blue hull protruding from the cold depths of the Maenggol Channel is forever seared in Korea's collective memory. Entombed in a steel coffin of a ferry were 304 people, 250 of whom were high school students. Though years have now passed, anguish and grief linger on. Influenced by Gerard Manley Hopkin's "The Loss of the Eurydice" and Alfred Tennyson's "In Memoriam," Kihyeon Lee's poetry e-chapbook, "The Loss of the Sewol," pays tribute to those lives lost on that fateful day of April 16, 2014. 

 

​Languages: English with Korean translations 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kihyeon Lee
• Release date: Jan 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201817824

Kihyeon Lee

Born in Jeonju, Kihyeon Lee was raised and educated in Jeonbuk Province of South Korea. As a writer, he hopes to capture the emotional journey and beauty of humanity from a personal perspective. When he isn't writing, he enjoys sauntering in the mountains and listening to classical music and opera. For musings and updates on writing projects, follow him on social media and visit his official website. Twitter: @poet_kihyeon Instagram: @kihyeon.lee

Book preview

Excerpts from The Loss of the Eurydice

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

유리디체호의 침몰 중에서 발췌

제라드 맨리 홉킨스

I.

The Eurydice—it concerned thee, O Lord:

Three hundred souls, O alas! on board,

Some asleep unawakened, all un-

warned, eleven fathoms fallen (/ where she foundered)

유리디체 호 – 그것은 당신과 관련된 일이었나이다, 오 주여!

3백에 이르는 영혼들, 승선하고 있었으나, 오, 어찌하여!

몇몇은 잠든 채 깨워지지도 않았고, 모두들 경고를 받지 않아,

육십여 피트 깊이 빠져들고 말아,(/ 그곳에서 허우적댔나이다!)

XXVII.

O well wept, mother have lost son;

Wept, wife; wept, sweetheart would be one:

Though grief yield them no good

Yet shed what tears sad truelove should.

오, 흠뻑 울었음이 나으리라, 어미가 자식을 잃었으니,

흠뻑 운 아내, 흠뻑 운 연인이 하나가 될 것이니.

비록 비탄해함이 그들에게 어떤 값진 수확 베풀어주진