Poet Heo Hyung-man was born in 1945 in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, South Korea.
He made his literary debut in 1973 through the literary magazine Wolgan Munhak (Monthly Literature). He has published 20 poetry collections, including Eyes of the Soul, Ecstasy, Wind Sword, and Encounter. His works have also been published abroad, including the Chinese poetry collection 許炯万詩賞析 and the Japanese poetry collection 耳な葬る.
He has received numerous literary honors, such as the Korean Poets Association Award, the Yeongrang Poetry Literature Award, the Pyeonun Literature Award, and the Gongcho Literature Award.
He is currently an Emeritus Professor at Mokpo National University.
THEORY OF LOVE
Love is a great abundance of thought.
A sea of thought—surging, yet never overflowing.
A mountain range of dazzling thoughts.
A well of thought that deepens endlessly in times of sorrow.
A tree of thought that trembles like petals in moments of joy.
Love is what fills an empty soul.
O you who sit by the window at dusk, waiting for a new star to rise,
O you who quietly dream when that new star begins to shine.
