Let’s keep this Midnight Lamp train going. I promised this translation 5 months ago…
Why is it that we feel more sympathy towards animals than towards people?
Today, I was driving back alone from dinner with my friend’s family. I was kind of lost in thought, as I usually am while I drive, when I saw ahead a shadow of a deer run across my side of the road. I instinctively looked towards the other side, the side the deer was headed to, and there was a car. I knew the deer was going to get hit. What I didn’t know, however, was the springy noise the impact would make, the body that would fly up, and down, and the way the lifeless body would spin to the ground as it hit the post on the sidewalk. I slowly drove by. I looked back. I looked back, not to check if the deer was dead or not… I knew it was dead. I looked back, because I wanted to see what the person would check first: his car or the deer.
I felt sad. It happened all too quickly. But then I thought, how would I feel if that was a person, not a deer. Would I still feel this sad? It would be fear, not sorrow.
This feels even worse because I posted a picture of a deer yesterday on Facebook…
Why is it that we feel more sympathy towards animals than towards people? Today, I was driving back alone from dinner with my friend’s family. I was kind of lost in thought, as I usually am while I drive, when I saw ahead a shadow of a deer run across my side of the road. I instinctively looked towards the other side, the side the deer was headed to, and there was a car. I knew the deer was going to get hit. What I didn’t know, however, was the springy noise the impact would make, the body that would fly up, and down, and the way the lifeless body would spin to the ground as it hit the post on the sidewalk. I slowly drove by. I looked back. I looked back, not to check if the deer was dead or not… I knew it was dead. I looked back, because I wanted to see what the person would check first: his car or the deer.
I felt sad. It happened all too quickly. But then I thought, how would I feel if that was a person, not a deer. Would I still feel this sad? It would be fear, not sorrow.
This feels even worse because I posted a picture of a deer yesterday on Facebook…
가끔씩 널 얘기 할 때가 있었어
모든 것이 서툴기만 했던 그때 괜한 자존심에
알겠어 그 한마디 하지를 못해
너를 보냈던 나는 정말 바보 같았다고
며칠이 지나고 네게 전화를 걸어봤던 날
익숙한 목소리 여보세요 라는
말이 많이 낯설어서
잘 지내 좋아 보이네 라며 끝내
미안하다고 솔직하지 못했어
다시 그때와 같은 계절이 내게 다가와
돌아보면 어딘가 있을 너를 생각나게 해
한참을 서성이던 그때와 같은
이 거리를 지나면
나도 모르게 또 너를
그리워하게 되나 봐
요즘 들어 집에 혼자인 시간들이 많아져서
이런 날이면 친구들 연락해보다
넌 어떻게 지내는지 궁금해져서 문득 찾아보다
대화 명 사진으로나마 알 수가 있었어
다시 그때와 같은 계절이 내게 다가와
눈감으면 어딘가 있을 너를 생각나게 해
한참을 망설이던 그때와 같은
이 방안에 혼자서
나도 모르게 또 너를
지금 어느 새 또 너를
보고 싶어 했나 봐
Sometimes I speak about you
Back when I didn’t know much but myself
I was too prideful to say I was wrong
How stupid I was to let you go
When I called you after a few days
The familiar “hello”
Was all too unfamiliar
I responded, “You seem to be doing well”
And hung up without saying I’m sorry
Once again, the same season has come as then
I remember where you’d be standing
Waiting for me
Whenever I pass this street
I can’t help but
Think of you
I spend most of my days alone
Trying to chat some of my friends up
Then I suddenly wonder how you’re doing
Only to find out through your profile pictures
Once again, the same season has come as then
I remember where you’d be lying
When I closed my eyes
In this room by myself
I find myself thinking
Of you and of us
And how much I miss you
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