[One Thousand Characters a Day] I Decided to Walk Following Plants <2>

Editor's NoteIt was none other than nature that transformed the author, who was clumsy in both life and daily living, into a respectable individual. And the more grateful the author felt toward such nature, the more the previously unnoticed pains of nature began to appear. Unconsciously immersed in the conveniences of civilization for daily life, the author now distances themselves from these and voluntarily embraces a lifestyle that increases everyday hardships. Reading this book, one realizes anew a precious truth that is so obvious yet often forgotten: all life in nature is closely connected, and humans are also a part of it. At the same time, readers will naturally empathize with the author, who contemplates what can be done for the environment. Word count: 984.

At dawn, the entire mountain and village were filled with bird songs to the extent that I would wake up to them. Among them, the cuckoo's call was so loud and clear that it reached from deep within the mountain all the way to our village. The cuckoo's cry could be heard occasionally throughout the dawn, but as morning approached, it would soon disappear back into the mountains. Sometimes, I would go out to the garden in the early morning breeze and listen to that sound for a long time. Like a supernatural resonance, the deep and clear sound brought an immeasurable peace to my heart when I listened quietly.

Following that, the early morning visitors to the neighborhood were sparrows and magpies. In the large tree next door, for some reason, every morning a flock of sparrows would flutter about, holding what was literally a bird choir competition. Listening to that noisy sound, I wondered what on earth was causing such a commotion, but strangely, I never once found it unpleasant.

Magpies were the birds that visited our garden most frequently. They always came and perched on the pine branch in front of the window, giving me many opportunities to see them up close. Their black heads and sky-blue wings looked very attractive and beautiful every time I saw them. At first, I didn’t know, but after watching daily, I realized magpies never traveled alone; they always moved in groups. According to bird guides, magpies live in family units and have a strong sense of community, even raising their young together. Perhaps because of this, I often heard their chattering cries in the morning, as if they had many stories to share. Their quick flights and cozy gatherings anywhere in the neighborhood gradually became familiar like neighborhood friends.

Besides these, countless lives came and went within our garden fence. A stray dog that stopped by to relieve itself in the middle of the garden lawn, a cat leisurely napping on the garden table, a mole I encountered as a carcass, and even a tiger spider occupying various parts of the tree. There were surely many more creatures that quietly passed by without being noticed by human eyes.

Especially at night, it was really impossible to know which animals entered the garden. The occasional unfamiliar animal sounds or the noises of cats fighting sent chills down my spine.

- Han Sujeong, I Decided to Walk Following Plants, Hyunamsa, 15,000 KRW