No Flower Blooms Without Wavering: 흔들리며 피는 꽃

by Jong-Hwan Do, Brother Anthony of Taizé (Translator), Jinna Park (Translator)

An English rendition of a collection of poetry by Do Jong-hwan, one of Korea’s most beloved poets. Do’s literary career started in 1984, when he released Age of Division while teaching Korean language and literature to high-school students. His second poetry collection, You the Hollyhock, sold over a million copies and was made into a film, and he became one of Korea’s most influential poets during the 1980s, popular among critics and readers alike. Through poetry, Do found beauty in the poverty of his youth and in the sadness and pain from losing his wife to illness. He portrays flowers, trees, creeks, wind, mountains, and other shifts in nature through a unique poetic sensibility. Have accepted poetry as his “fate and companion,” he conveys simple truths and wisdom, such as how life matures and finds beauty amid pain and suffering. This collection was rendered into English by Brother Anthony, President of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch and translator who has introduced international readers to several Korean works, and Jinna Park.

Genres: Poetry, Asia

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Today there is
no sign of you,
who turned into a star
and lingered a while
outside the window"

Break my heart more, please. These poems, so lovely on their own, are even more affecting when you know a bit about Do Jong Hwan's life and the loss of his wife at a young age. I love his work because it's like glass; simple and reflective, a clarity achieved only because it's gone through the fire. All of his poems, even the saddest ones, are tempered by a quiet inner strength. He's never entirely lost to grief, you know he'll come out on the other side. If you believe in hope and resilience, these poems will sing to you.

One minor quibble is that I don't love the translation of one of his most famous, 흔들리며 피는 꽃 No Flower Blooms Without Wavering. (Mostly because of the word "moist". There are other, better words than "moist" to use for this translation...words that don't make people [me] cringe). I think the best translation I've read of this poem is from 'Left/Write Lit'. While I do appreciate this translation for accuracy and readability, there's not as much artistic interpretation as I like. But the balance between literal translation and capturing 'the spirit' of a thing is personal taste, of course.

[aina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry and nature. Two things that always go together. I loved the way Do Jong-hwan portrayed the flowers, trees, mountains, and rivers in his poems. Having learned his loss of wife, the grief and longing were prominent in most of his works, but there's always a glint of hope in them.

The second part, A Tree at Peak of Life, would be my most favourite part ever from this entire collection. April Magnolias, The Day Autumn Leaves Turn Color, A Dying Flower, and Lilac Blossom, to name a few. So many nice, lyrical poems and phrases that I needed to highlight! My only complaint is that at some point the translation can be weird and off. The word choice could have been better.

Lovely, melancholic, and yet quietly empowering, No Flower Blooms Without Wavering is a collection of poetry that you'd love to revisit from time to time.

[Helen (they or he) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where have flowers bloomed but never trembled?
Even those most beautiful
all trembled as they blossomed,
and as they shook, stalks grew firm.
Where is there a love which is never shaken?

Where have flowers bloomed though never been made wet?
Even those most brightly sparkling
were soaked and soaked again as they blossomed.
Battered by wind and rain, their petals opened warmly.
Where is there a life which is never been drenched?"

"흔들리지 않고 피는 꽃이 어디 있으랴
이 세상 그 어떤 아름다운 꽃들도
다 흔들리면서 피었나니
흔들리면서 줄기를 곧게 세웠나니
흔들리지 않고 가는 사랑이 어디 있으랴

젖지 않고 피는 꽃이 어디 있으랴
이세상 그 어떤 빛나는 꽃들도
다 젖으며 젖으며 피었나니
바람과 비에 젖으며 꽃입 따뜻하게 피웠나니
젖지 않고 가는 삶이 어디 있으랴"

[Justine B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t often read poetry as I always think my literary education is not enough to really understand them. But it may be a mistake. The author introduces this collection by « I hope my poems reach you through your hearts rather than your minds ». This was a success. I only had read the first poem but already had teary-eyes. It was pure and beautiful. The themes of love, grief and longing, hope explored in the collection though so many nature images really touched my heart.
The edition was nicely put together. I like that the original poem in Korean was side by side with its translation.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

인류애 재충전에 도움을 주심에 감사합니다... 꾸벅

[Janett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding beauty in grief and loss. Nature as a natural companion to make sense of life. Stunning poetry.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorites:

One Star
If Only I Had a Friend
Birch Tree
At Sangseon-am Hermitage

[Masha Vorochkova · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you feel forlorn, your heart grows kinder."

"Do not love beauty alone, you have to love the silence after beauty has fallen."

[Ronald Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do Jong-Hwan beautiful and sad poetry collection
Published in bilingual Korean and English,
The collection of poems includes his very popular poem "IVY."
"IVY" has also inspired songs
송문선 담쟁이
https://youtu.be/miIitQXkp3g

I enjoyed his poem "The Road I Was Bound to take." The poem reminded me of some events that occurred in my life.

Do Jong-Hwan poems are beautifully written and easy to understand.

Excellent poetry 5 Stars.
Well, worth reading many times.

[Katia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro que se quedará en mi mesa de noche para consultarlo cada vez que lo necesite.