But though something is lost, another masterpiece is gained. If in the damage and loss done in the original, a new poem is created or evolved in the new language, then I would have to say that translation is very necessary. But as more translations are made there is a greater possibility that the quality of translations would be greater. I want to deliver my poetry to Korean and Americans alike. But I don t want to fit my poetry for Koreans or deliver what Americans are looking for.
Poetry is universal and transcendent, and appeals to the hearts of all people at the same level.
It is a song for all people. There are certainly poems that fit the Korean mentality, but if you write only those kind of poems then poetry becomes a secret, something that other people cannot discover, appreciate, and share. Yisei and Samsei are very important. But people are made with the ability to bear more than this, so the Yisei should be able to handle their crucial task, their responsibility, of telling future generations of our real traditions. Won Park '02 is an English concentrator living in Leverett House .