While painting the walls, I remembered the day the young couple who used to live here left. As I stripped off the thin wallpaper, I found layers of old newspapers underneath. I almost raised my hand to bid them farewell as they loaded the truck, looking like people who had never smiled before. They left behind a worn toothbrush on the sink, leaving memories lingering in the bristles.
As I cut and paste the new floral wallpaper, I watched them disappear behind the walls. Their existence faded into the background, leaving a sense of emptiness. Reflecting on their lives, I overlapped their determination with the faded background. As I painted over the old newspaper with new wallpaper, my own past intertwined with theirs.
The poet, in one of his works, juxtaposes images of a man lying on an underground walkway and a friend who couldn’t take his own life, portraying the scene of his dead friend’s grave with poignant detail. His poems skillfully weave together themes of emptiness and sadness, capturing the essence of life’s struggles in a unique way.
In another poem titled ‘While Painting the Walls,’ the poet delicately captures the mundane aspects of life and its deeper meanings. His gaze is warm yet distant, reminiscent of the young couple who once lived here. He reflects on their departure, leaving behind traces of their unfulfilled dreams and a sense of melancholy. The poet’s ability to transform everyday experiences into profound reflections is truly remarkable.
The poet’s work has been recognized with multiple literary awards, making him a rare ‘four-time champion’ in 21st-century Korean literature. His poems offer readers a chance to revisit hidden stories and memories, inviting them to ponder life’s complexities. Though I have never met him, I feel a special connection to his work and hope to reach out to him someday.