남가주에서 겨울을 보내며 / 이한중

남가주에서 두번째로 겨울을 맞고 보내는구나.
철새라고 부르는 삶이라고 들 말하던가
그러나 나 자신은 어느덧 이곳에 제법 익숙해져
늦었으나
인생의 황혼 길이나
정착해보려는
야심을 품어본다.

Chilly morning, bright sunny, pleasant midday,
followed by cool evening.
Heater gets turned on all night.
Studying weather forecast and traffic jams seems to be
an essential part of daily life in California.
People seem to be all focused on pleasure seeking every which way
realizing that life times are way too short for all the things they want to do.

Yet I don't feel like doing anything other than
stop and think and live quietly.

늦었으나
인생의 황혼길이나
내 발길 이제는 더디고 지쳤으나
내 옛날의 그 욕망,
"어디서 조용히 살렵니다."
매일 밤 꿈 꾸어 본다.

남가주는 아름다운곳,
어디를 가나 people are friendly and smiling.
Sukjoo and I can move around at our own pace
and pick and choose any place, any beach and any mountain,
we want to visit.
We often just sit at the beach staring at the powerful waves.
Beyond the Pacific Ocean we think of, we dream of a land
where we were born and buried our innocent young hearts.

"조용히 살련다, 우리는,"
시끄러운 군중 틈에서도,
Even in the middle of the infamous I-5 traffic congestion,
No matter what,
No matter where.

The Pacific Ocean understands the tranquility of my heart,
whose desire my Good Lord sees with His smile.

어느새 남가주 저녁은 깊어지고
내 주위는 고요와  내가슴을 달래주는 음악뿐,
이렇게 남가주의 겨울의 어느 하룻밤은
또 지나가는데.