Sijo Poems
Fisherman's Calendar
by Yun Seon-do
I. SPRING
8. I drank and lay back;
the boat carried me down through the shallows.
Secure the boat, secure the boat!
Pink petals floated near;
Towŏn itself must have been near.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
Red dust of the world -
how far away it seemed.
II. SUMMER
......
If on the pathways of dreams
by Yi Myunghan
If on the pathways of dreams
a footprint could leave a mark,
The road by your window
though rough with rocks,
would soon wear smooth.
But in dreams paths take no footprints.
I mourn the more for that.
On Sijo Writing
by Yi Sang
The first line is a full skirt,
the second is the bodice;
On reaching the third and last
the neat collar has been added.
Lightly tie the ribbon bow,
and the charm of the dress will appear.
The basic pattern of fours
is like the counting of the days:
Twenty-eight will make a month,
thirty-one, too, will make a month.
......
Sunshine Golden
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
There's a burst of mellow sunshine, the hour of my return
after many nights, dark and sable, spent in longing for my home
Bees buzz in the rose garden, and soon to their honeycomb
Jade Green Stream
by Hwang Chin-i
Jade Green Stream, Don't boast so proud
of your easy passing through these blue hills
Once you have reached the broad sea,
to return again will be hard,
While the Bright Moon fills these empty hills,
why not pause? Then go on, if you will.
A Gladness of Days
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
In perpetual sunshine of years, a bouquet a day,
varicolored and beautiful, chanting blooms' warm, deep yellow praise!
My garden gleeful is always looking on the bright side.
Color Deluged Time
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
In the heart of colorful autumn, skies were colored, too,
for flaming time was getting older, out in the hilly country.
Springtime's budding charm, lends a certain beauty to old age.
Falling Colors Lately
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Fiery, sunset days of crackling autumn, such colors in trees-
birds of every hue, not to mention vibrantly, cascading leaves!
The bittersweet season's lingering, like moonlight on water.
Marmalade Street
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
On a street of mellow autumn, gold leaves have turned deep orange
As harvest season offers vibrant hues, and cold that makes you cringe
And wild, bitter orange sunsets, are caught between plummy days
Summer Gradually
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Summer, and the sunglow hours are creeping, so slowly by
with red ruby treasures, waiting placidly, all day in the sky
But, twilight finally ends, with the perfume of black blooms
