Poet·ColumnistAs winter approaches and the weather grows cold, the songs of Gourdmont play on the path to the forest. Simone's back as she walks through the autumn-leaf-strewn woods.

As winter arrives and the nights grow longer, the stars shine in the heavens for extended periods. Who could it be? The one listening to the song of Byeol Sarang right now.

There is no singer whose heart feels as warm as Byeol Sarang's. Her songs carry the warmth of melodies that ripen like roasted sweet potatoes as winter deepens. As she reaches higher notes, her mid-low register voice is clear, yet comforting and familiar.

Her voice, wrapped in layers of clouds like climbing a staircase of clouds, is thick. From the low-lying stories that begin at a lower pitch, singing of ordinary life on earth, it ascends to the heavens like a departing train.

I cannot forget the time she sang the song 'Reunion'. Her body, like an elegant celadon porcelain. The suppressed and restrained voice that emanated from within. I cannot forget the waves that sank to the depths and then surged forth.

Stars do not shine selectively for anyone. Her songs are also not sung selectively for people. Byeol Sarang's songs are as vast and merciful as starlight. Today, I am still picking up fragments of shining starlight scattered by Byeol Sarang's song in the night.

When stars find a partner, they also bear children. In the vast universe, when the sky and earth first came into being, a star woman walking in the primeval beginning must also have loved.

A legend tells of her countless star children filling and growing within the galaxies. Among the myriad shining stars, there will surely be Byeol Sarang's children in the future.

When she filled the winter night sky with her songs, I wanted to give names to the star children.

- Star Flower, Star Dream, Star Match, Star Painting -

There is no prayer of a star without a dream.

If Park Hye Shin is the singer who sends her songs the farthest, then Byeol Sarang is the singer with the warmest timbre. If Jeon Yu Jin is the person one should meet under the autumn sky, then Park Hye Shin is the person one should meet on a mountain in late autumn with fallen leaves. If Lyn is the singer one should meet amidst the spring haze, then Byeol Sarang is the woman one should meet on a winter night amidst the city lights.

Last autumn, she had her wedding. I sincerely hope she bears as many star children as will fill the sky. Tonight, the sky is full of stars. I listen to Byeol Sarang's song.

Poet·Columnist