서른, 잔치는 끝났다 At Thirty, the Party Is Over

서른, 잔치는 끝났다

물론 나는 알고 있다
내가 운동보다도 운동가를
술보다도 술 마시는 분위기를 더 좋아했다는 걸
그리고 외로울 땐 동지여! 로 시작하는 투쟁가가 아
니라
낮은 목소리로 사랑노래를 즐겼다는 걸
그러나 대체 무슨 상관이란 말인가
잔치는 끝났다
술 떨어지고, 사람들은 하나 둘 지갑을 챙기고 마침
내 그도 갔지만
마지막 셈을 마치고 제각기 신발을 찾아 신고 떠났
지만
어렴풋이 나는 알고 있다
여기 흘로 누군가 마지막까지 남아
주인 대신 상을 치우고
그 모든 걸 기억해내며 뜨거운 눈물 흘리리란 걸
 
그가 부르다 만 노래를 마저 고쳐 부르리란 걸
어쩌면 나는 알고 있다
누군가 그 대신 상을 차리고, 새벽이 오기 전에
다시 사람들을 불러 모으리란 걸
환하게 불 밝히고 무대를 다시 꾸미리라
 
그러나 대체 무슨 상관이란 말인가
 

At Thirty, the Party Is Over

Fact is,
the revolutionaries were cooler than the revolution,
the booze was better than the bar,
and that 'O My Comrade' anthem
sucked —
(though I did hum along to those corny love songs).
But what the hell —
 
the party is over,
the booze has run dry, wallets are emptied and, finally,
even he's left —
but, although the bill's been split, and they've all got their
coats
and even though the place is deserted —
I know there's someone still lurking
wiping tables clean for the boss
remembering all the highs and shedding hot tears
someone who knows every word of the unfinished songs
someone — not him — who'll maybe
set up the tables by morning
who'll invite them all back
who'll rig up the lighting and repaint the stage —
 
sure. But what the hell.
 

At Thirty, the Party Is Over

Of course I know
That I liked the activists rather than activism
That I liked the boozing atmosphere than the booze itself
And that I enjoyed not the protest song starting with Oh
My Comrade!
but the love songs hummed in a low voice
but why on earth does it matter.
 
The party is over.
The booze's run out and although everyone has collected their wallets
and at last he's also left but
although the bill's been sorted out and everybody's fled
in their shoes
but vaguely I know that
there will be someone remaining here all alone
cleaning up the table for the taverner
remembering every bit and shedding hot tears
that somebody will start with correction the song he's
left unfinished
perhaps I know
that somebody instead of him will set up a table and before the dawn
get the people together again
will[1] put on all the lights and refurbish the stage.
 
But why on earth does it matter?
 

Literal translator’s note: [1] I? That Somebody? He?

Original Poem by

Choi Young-Mi

Translated by

Kyoo Lee with Sarah Maguire Language

Korean

Country

South Korea