사람은 나서 자라고, 늙고 병들어 죽는다. 누구도 피할 수 없는 인생유전의 굴레이다. 인생의 황혼기에 접어드니 주름살이 늘어나고, 머리는 희고 빠지며, 기력은 떨어지고 신체에도 문제가 생긴다. 게다가 기억력도 쇠퇴해서 건망의 수준을 넘어섰다. 내가 늙은 나이(老年)가 되었음을 절실하게 느낀다. 노년의 변화는 자신만 아니라 주위의 사람들도 함께 겪는다. 나만 늙어가는 것이 아니라, 주위에서도 늙어짐은 같이 진행되니, 이러한 인생의 수레바퀴 속에 사랑하는 사람들과 만나고 헤어지기도 한다. 생각자니 나도 모르는 사이에 어언 인생유전의 종점에 다다른 몸이 되었고, 지나간 일은 아득하기만 하고, 앞길은 망망하기만 하다. 나이 탓인지 요즘 부쩍 ‘늙음’, ‘늙어 감’에 대한 생각이 많아진다. 옛 분들은 늙음이라는 명제를 어떻게 대하고, 또 어떻게 겪었고, 어떻게 표현하고 있는가? 옛 시에서 늙음을 맞이하는 노년의 모습을 찾아본다. 주변에서 구할 수 있는 노년에 관련된 한시를 이리저리 찾다보니 늙음 자체를 읊은 시도 많고, 노년의 생에서 겪는 인생애환에 관한 시도 많다. 노년을 자연스럽고 낙관적으로 맞이하는 시각도 있지만, 애절한 사연도 많다. 노년은 과연 즐거운 것일까? 아니면 슬픈 것일까? 노년을 읊은 옛 시를 한 수 한 수 새겨보면서 옛 분들의 마음을 헤아려 보고, 또 황혼에 선 내 마음을 반추해 본다. 애초 이 책은 노년에 관련된 우리 한시를 추려 볼 생각에서 시작되었다. 하지만 우리 한시에 중국의 한시가 널리 인용되고 있고, 또 중국이 한시의 본향이어서인지 좋은 시가 너무나 많다. 이에 노년에 관한 유명한 중국 한시도 작업에 포함하였다. 두서없이 모아 본 노년에 관한 한시가 우리 시 191(題) 232수(首), 중국 시 52제 54수가 되었다. 원고에 포함하지 못한 좋은 시가 더 있으련만 힘이 닿지 못한 아쉬움을 안고 우선은 286수의 시로 한 권의 책을 묶어본다. 젊음은 ‘젊은 상태’ 또는 ‘젊은 기력’을 뜻하는 명사이지만 ‘늙음’이라는 말은 ??표준국어대사전??에도 없다. 복잡한 어문학적인 설명은 차치하고, ‘젊음’은 과거완료형이지만, ‘늙어 감’은 현재진행형이어서 ‘늙음’이라는 명사가 없는 것으로 받아들여본다. 그러면 내 ‘늙음’이 완료형이 되는 노년은 언제일까? 코로나가 기승을 떠는 2021년 한겨울, 책으로 펴내고자 원고를 마지막으로 손보면서 내 인생작업의 또 하나가 지나간다는 생각에 잠겨본다.

Ⅰ. 우리 시
001. 병든 눈, 오세재 ··············································································3
002. 취중에 써서 이청경에게 주다, 이규보 ··············································4
003. 이튿날 다시 4수를 짓다, 이규보 ······················································6
004. 봄을 보내며, 이규보 ·······································································8
005. 대머리를 자조함, 이규보 ·······························································9
006. 회포를 쓰다, 원감 ········································································11
007. 연꽃 구경, 곽예 ···········································································12
008. 늙음을 탄식하는 시조, 우탁 ··························································13
009. 산에 살며 봄날에, 왕백 ································································15
010. 치통, 안축 ···················································································16
011. 한가로이 지내며, 민사평 ······························································17
012. 낙동 선생에게 희롱삼아 부치다, 민사평 ········································18
013. 흰 머리카락, 이색 ········································································19
014. 팔이 아파서, 이색 ········································································20
015. 스스로 탄식하다, 이색 ·································································21
016. 일찍 일어나다, 이색 ·····································································22
017. 치통, 이색 ···················································································23
018. 벼슬을 살자니, 노영수 ··································································24
019. 눈병, 이숭인 ················································································25
020. 광주 청풍루의 시에 차운하다, 남재 ···············································26
021. 자신을 읊어보다, 권근 ·································································27
022. 맛있는 배, 권근 ···········································································28
023. 가을을 보내며, 김익정 ··································································29
024. 거울을 보며, 손조서 ·····································································30
025. 거울에서 백발을 보고, 손조서 ·······················································31
026. 꽃을 대하고 읊다, 서거정 ·····························································32
027. 늙음을 탄식하다, 서거정 ······························································33
028. 앓고 나서 짓다, 서거정 ·································································34
029. 검은 나무지팡이, 서거정 ······························································35
030. 백발, 서거정 ················································································37
031. 삼월 삼십일에, 김종직 ··································································38
032. 동산에 살구꽃이 피고, 김종직 ·······················································39
033. 광나루의 배에서 새벽에 일어나서, 홍귀달 ·····································41
034. 백발의 노래, 성현 ········································································42
035. 죽은 처를 애도하다, 성현 ·····························································43
036. 월호에서 여름을 맞아 밤비에 술을 마시다, 남효온 ·························44
037. 한겨울 밤에 빗소리를 듣다, 정수강 ···············································45
038. 늙고 병듬을 탄식하다, 정수강 ·······················································46
039. 봄추위, 정희량 ·············································································47
040. 밤중에 시를 짓다, 홍언필 ·····························································48
041. 감회, 이행 ···················································································49
042. 팔월 열여드레날 밤, 이행 ·····························································51
043. 백발을 보고 감회가 일어, 이행 ·····················································52
044. 눈병, 박은 ···················································································53
045. 이가 빠짐의 탄식, 소세양 ·····························································54
046. 늙음을 한탄하다, 소세양 ······························································56
047. 죽은 처를 꿈꾸고, 심언광 ·····························································57
048. 노인들의 모임, 심수경 ··································································58
049. 겨울 밤, 이황 ···············································································61
050. 미천장담에서, 이황 ······································································62
051. 백발, 최연 ···················································································63
052. 스스로를 위한 만시, 노수신 ··························································64
053. 봄을 애석히 여기는 시에 차운하여, 구봉령 ····································65
054. 달을 보며, 송익필 ········································································66
055. 가을날에 짓다, 정철 ·····································································67
056. 귀양지 강계에서, 정철 ·································································68
057. 벚꽃을 읊은 시에 차운하여, 현소 ··················································69
058. 몸이 노쇠해짐을 탄식하다, 최립 ···················································70
059. 병중에 꽃가지 꺾어 놓고 읊다, 이달 ·············································71
060. 꽃을 보고 늙어 감을 탄식함, 이달 ·················································72
061. 대추 따는 노래, 이달 ···································································73
062. 즉흥으로 읊다, 이산해 ··································································74
063. 대 지팡이를 선물하며, 이산해 ·······················································75
064. 아들이 준 지팡이, 이정암 ·····························································76
065. 취해서 읊다, 이정암 ·····································································77
066. 작은 연못을 파고서 연꽃을 심고, 조호익 ·······································78
067. 왕유의 백발탄에 차운하다, 성여학 ················································79
068. 눈 덮인 소나무, 박이장 ·································································80
069. 중양절에 다시 앞의 운자를 써서 지은 3수, 박이장 ·························81
070. 머리를 빗으며, 박이장 ··································································83
071. 늙음이 아쉬워서, 송영구 ······························································84
072. 흰 머리카락을 뽑으며 탄식하다, 차천로 ········································85
073. 백두옹을 읊다, 이수광 ··································································87
074. 단오에 손자를 묻고, 이수광 ··························································88
075. 기미년 입추에 짓다, 성여학 ··························································90
076. 죽은 사람에 대한 탄식, 신흠 ························································91
077. 흰 수염, 정운희 ············································································92
078. 장난삼아 짓다, 조위한 ··································································93
079. 우연히 쓰다, 권필 ········································································94
080. 백발, 정온 ···················································································95
081. 백두옹의 노래, 김상헌 ··································································96
082. 친구의 죽음에 울며, 이안눌 ··························································97
083. 죽은 아내를 애도하다, 유몽인 ·······················································98
084. 백발, 유몽인 ················································································99
085. 운곡의 애도사에 차운하여, 김집 ·················································100
086. 둔암 송자심의 시에 차운하다, 조익 ············································102
087. 봄날의 감회, 이응희 ···································································103
088. 물고기를 먹으며, 이응희 ····························································104
089. 이가 빠져서, 이응희 ···································································105
090. 달밤에, 김육 ·············································································106
091. 밤마다 꿈에서 죽은 친구를 보다, 김효건 ·····································107
092. 국화를 보내드리며, 구영 ····························································109
093. 아들의 생일에 지은 애도시, 이식 ················································110
094. 죽음을 생각하고 스스로 지은 만시 3수, 최기남 ···························112
095. 내 늙음을 한탄하는 노래, 이민구 ················································116
096. 섣달 그믐저녁에, 이민구 ····························································118
097. 치아와 백발의 노래, 이민구 ························································119
098. 머리가 벗어지다, 이민구 ····························································121
099. 드물고도 드물지, 정부인 장씨 ·····················································123
100. 한밤중에 잠을 깨어, 정칙 ···························································124
101. 처를 잃고 밤에 읊다, 최대립 ·······················································125
102. 흰머리를 탄식하며, 권시 ····························································126
103. 성곽 남쪽의 봄날, 신익전 ···························································127
104. 외삼촌을 보내는 만사, 송준길 ·····················································128
105. 박형 시보에게 주다, 송시열 ························································129
106. 가을을 맞아 늙음을 탄식하다, 이진백 ··········································130
107. 지팡이와 약을 보내 준 친구에 답하다, 이현일 ·····························131
108. 조카의 장례식 날에 울며, 소두산 ················································132
109. 꽃을 찾아서, 신정 ······································································133
110. 허숙의 회혼례를 축하하며, 남용익 ··············································134
111. 번방곡을 쓰다, 남구만 ································································135
112. 섣달그믐에, 박세당 ····································································136
113. 세밑에, 박세당 ···········································································137
114. 그믐날 밤을 읊은 2수, 박세당 ·····················································138
115. 친구에 대한 만시, 박세당 ···························································139
116. 학포에서의 옛 유람을 추억하다, 송규렴 ······································140
117. 섣달 그믐날 밤에, 송규렴 ···························································141
118. 치통이 심해서, 윤추 ··································································143
119. 늙음을 탄식하다, 유명천 ····························································144
120. 옥잠화의 노래, 이서우 ································································145
121. 친구에게 초환단을 구하며, 신익상 ··············································147
122. 아내여, 아내여, 홍세태 ······························································148
123. 흰 머리털을 보며, 김유 ······························································149
124. 둘째 누님의 묘에 곡하며, 조정만 ················································151
125. 노쇠함을 탄식하며, 조태채 ·························································152
126. 즐거운 백발의 노래, 채팽윤 ························································153
127. 아들의 죽음을 슬퍼하며, 윤동수 ·················································156
128. 늙은 처가 술을 권하니, 정래교 ···················································157
129. 삼족재 시에 차운하다 2수, 이익 ·················································158
130. 안경의 노래, 이익 ······································································160
131. 세밑의 노래, 이익 ······································································163
132. 회혼잔치 시에 차운한 3수, 이익 ·················································165
133. 귀가 어두워지다, 이익 ·······························································168
134. 어린 손자의 돌잔치에 짓다, 이익 ················································169
135. 노안, 심육 ·················································································170
136. 노쇠함을 탄식하며 2수, 유의건 ··················································171
137. 가난한 늙은이의 탄식, 유의건 ·····················································172
138. 홀로 누워서, 권만 ······································································174
139. 낙치의 노래 2수, 오광운 ····························································175
140. 입춘 날 장난삼아 쓰다, 강박 ······················································177
141. 그믐에 느낀 바가 있어, 조현명 ···················································178
142. 구월에 대숙과 반갑게 만나서, 임성원 ··········································179
143. 죽은 아내를 애도하며, 오원 ·······················································180
144. 술 한 잔 앞에 놓고 친구를 애도하다, 김원행 ································181
145. 백발가를 짓고 혼자 위로하며, 유언술 ··········································182
145. 섣달그믐에 이가 빠짐을 탄식하다, 이중연 ···································184
147. 친구의 죽음을 곡하다, 원중거 ·····················································185
148. 한탄스러움, 정범조 ····································································186
149. 그믐날 저녁, 송환기 ···································································187
150. 친구의 지팡이를 두고 읊다, 성대중 ·············································188
151. 죽은 누이를 슬퍼하며, 박윤원 ·····················································189
152. 눈병을 앓으면서 탄식하다, 이만운 ··············································191
153. 돌아가신 형님을 생각하다, 박지원 ··············································192
154. 늙음을 탄식한 시, 임광택 ···························································193
155. 노안을 탄식하다, 강정환 ····························································195
156. 늙음을 한탄하는 노래, 윤기 ·······················································196
157. 어린 딸이 내 흰머리를 뽑기에, 윤기 ···········································198
158. 경오년 정월 초하룻날에, 윤기 ····················································199
159. 늙은 줄도 모르고 3수, 윤기 ·······················································200
160. 목대간의 회혼례에, 윤기 ····························································202
161. 칠석, 박제가 ··············································································204
162. 두보의 운에 따라, 영수각 서씨 ····················································205
163. 늙은 처, 김상일 ·········································································206
164. 친구를 꿈꾸며, 남공철 ································································207
165. 과거시험 발표 날, 조수삼 ···························································208
166. 병으로 아내에게 머리를 빗겨 달라 청하며, 조수삼 ·······················210
167. 아내의 죽음을 애도하며, 조수삼 ·················································211
168. 백발, 정약용 ··············································································212
169. 회혼시, 정약용 ·····················································································213
170. 노인의 한 가지 유쾌한 일에 관한 시 여섯 수를 백향산의
시체를 본받아 짓다, 정약용 ························································216
171. 술집 할멈 이 씨를 슬퍼하며, 김려 ···············································225
172. 기남의 변승애 여사가 가냘프고 예쁘게 생겼는데, 필묵 시중들며
모시겠단다. 내 늙어 사양하노라 하고, 이에 시를 지어주었다.
실로 스스로 웃을 일이다, 신위 ···················································227
173. 낙화유수, 신위 ··········································································228
174. 스스로를 위한 만시, 이양연 ························································229
175. 늙음을 탄식하는 노래, 박윤묵 ·····················································230
176. 두부 찜, 박윤묵 ·········································································231
177. 이가 듬성해지다, 홍직필 ····························································232
178. 봄을 전별하다, 홍직필 ································································233
179. 이가 빠지다, 김유근 ···································································234
180. 아내를 위한 애도 시, 김정희 ·······················································237
181. 닭 우는 소리, 김정희 ··································································238
182. 아흐레 날 등고하다, 조면호 ························································239
183. 나날을 보내며, 조면호 ································································240
184. 백발을 자조하며, 장지완 ····························································241
185. 늙음을 읊다, 김병연 ···································································242
186. 낙치 유감 2수, 민주현 ································································243
187. 이가 빠짐을 위로하며, 임헌회 ·····················································245
188. 늙음을 걱정하며, 이유원 ····························································246
189. 늙음, 이유원 ··············································································247
190. 지난날을 애석해하다, 한장석 ······················································248
191. 친구의 늙음을 한탄한 시에 화운하여, 김영수 ·······························250

Ⅱ. 중국 시
01. 부추 잎의 이슬, 실명씨 ································································253
02. 백년을 못사는 몸이, 실명씨 ··························································254
03. 열다섯에 군대에 갔다가, 실명씨 ···················································255
04. 백두음, 탁문군 ·············································································257
05. 추풍사, 한무제 ·············································································260
06. 죽은 아내를 애도하며, 반악 ·························································261
07. 아내를 그리며, 반악 ····································································263
08. 백발부, 좌사 ···············································································265
09. 잡시, 도잠 ···················································································271
10. 자신의 만가를 써보다, 도잠 ·························································272
11. 백발이 된 노인의 슬픔을 대신하여, 유희이 ····································274
12. 북망산, 심전기 ·············································································276
13. 거울에 비친 백발을 보고, 장구령 ··················································277
14. 백발을 탄식하다, 왕유 ·································································278
15. 가을밤에 홀로 앉아, 왕유 ·····························································279
16. 추포의 노래, 이백 ········································································280
17. 곡강에서, 두보 ············································································281
18. 백발을 탄식하다, 잠삼 ·································································283
19. 백발을 한탄하다, 위응물 ······························································284
20. 백발을 탄식하다, 노륜 ·································································285
21. 봄을 아끼며, 이익 ········································································286
22. 이웃 노인을 대신해서 짓다, 두공 ··················································287
23. 봄을 보내며, 왕애 ········································································288
24. 이가 빠지다, 한유 ········································································289
25. 흰머리를 뽑으며, 왕건 ·································································291
26. 늙음을 읊다, 백거이 ·····································································292
27. 늙음을 탄식한 3수, 백거이 ···························································293
28. 백발, 백거이 ················································································296
29. 거울을 보고 늙음을 기뻐하다, 백거이 ············································298
30. 봄을 보내며, 백거이 ·····································································301
31. 친구의 물음에 답하여, 백거이 ·······················································303
32. 앵두나무 아래서 백발을 탄식하다, 백거이 ·····································304
33. 술을 마시며 모란을 보다, 유우석 ··················································305
34. 무제, 이상은 ················································································306
35. 흐르는 물을 한탄하다, 나업 ·························································308
36. 봄, 고섬 ······················································································309
37. 흰머리를 뽑으며, 위장 ·································································310
38. 죽은 아내를 애도하며, 매요신 ·······················································311
39. 젊은이들아 청춘을 돌이켜보라, 왕안석 ·········································312
40. 길상사 꽃구경, 소식 ····································································313
41. 동쪽 울타리에 핀 배꽃, 소식 ························································314
42. 백발을 보고 즐거워하는 시, 주익 ··················································315
43. 백발을 탄식하다, 양만리 ······························································316
44. 권학가, 주희 ···············································································318
45. 백발의 탄식, 왕약허 ·····································································320
46. 조용한 밤에 생각하다, 우겸 ·························································321
47. 내일의 노래, 전복 ········································································323
48. 꽃 아래에서 술을 마시며 노래하다, 당인 ·······································324
49. 우연히 백발을 보고, 원굉도 ··························································325
50. 봄날에 읊다, 원매 ········································································326
51. 봄을 보내며, 오석기 ·····································································327
52. 바람 따라 돌아가리라, 영위 ·························································328