Hope is Lonely

by 김승희, Kim Seung-Hee, Brother Anthony (Translator)

This selection of Kim Seung-hee's most recent poems is drawn half from her ninth collection, Hope is Lonely, and half from her tenth collection, Croaker on a Chopping Board. Focusing on humanity s utter fragility through, among others, the themes of death, hope, depression and love, often seen through the lens of sorrowful womanhood, these poems, be they modernist or romantic in idiom, also comment on political and social issues, and Korean society and culture in general. Brother Anthony s deeply sensitive translation, and his informative preface, make the work of this major Korean poet available for the first time in the UK.

132 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2021

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these were really great, but I'm personally not great at reading poetry.

[SATURN T.I · Rating 1 out of 5]

لا روح في هذهِ القصائد ، قتلتها الترجمة .
لهذا يجب ان لا يُترجم الشعر ، أبداً ..

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way i was reading in the beginning, flipping back and forth between the korean and the english, was probably not the best way to read this, but it was honestly because i couldn't really understand the poem in either language. a lot of poems in the first half sort of went over my head.
i did really love the softer and more tender poems, like 바람을 옷에 싼 여자 (woman wrapping the wind in clothes) and a bunch of poems from her collection a croaker on a chopping board, especially 여행으로의 초대 (invitation to a journey) and 꽃피는 아몬드 나무 (an almond tree in bloom). i think i might just be a fan of tender poetry in general. i really loved how she conveyed softness and love in human connection and brought nature to life.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this poetry collection by the Korean author and poet Kim Seunghee. My favourites are Nevertheless, Translucent Opacity and more!

Her writing style is so moving. I read the original, and the translated version of "Hope is Lonely." I can say that I'm growing fond of Korean literature day by day.

[نايف · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب عن الادب الشعري في كوريا ، فيه الحكمه والنصح، وملامح ثقاقة كوريا

اقتباسات شعرية:
الشَّعرُ غُرفةُ إنعاشٍ،
خيمةُ أكسجين،
الشَّعر هو يومُ المرأةِ الحامِل؛
ذلكَ اليومُ الذي لا يعرفُ احدٌ متى يحين؛
لتضعَ مولودَها!
الشَّعرُ ركضٌ مع امساكِ قُنبلة؛
ركضٌ يتجاوزُ السَّحابَ!


دائًما ، تمنحُنا الحياة فرصًا حتى ولو أهدرنَاها ،
فلو أنَّنا حقًّا بذلنا جُهودًا مُخلصةً بِجِدٍ ،
لأمكننا تخيُّل الجيِد ،
ولأمكننا أن نفكر في طرُق إصلاح ما تكسَّر مِن الأشياءِ
رويدًا رويدًا .

المُحبِون لا يشيخونَ ولا يموتون!
إنَّهم المحبِونَ!

[قسمت خالد · Rating 3 out of 5]

قيل لي أن أختار كلمة واحدة من العالم
ولو أنني خُيّرت في تلك الكلمة
لاخترت كلمة "القلب"

لقد عشت الحياة بقلبي؛
قلب متألم،
قلب متورم،
قلب به أطعمت بعض الصغار!
فمن يعيش بقلبه
يختار كلمة " القلب"!⁦♥️⁩

كيم سنغ هي