Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
To My Prince (sijo) - (English)
(sijo)
'...should my love return.'
U Tak (1262-1342)
The soul of the air enfolds the soul of the tall cherry tree.
Why is Time in my garden, speaking softly to the peonies?
I listen hard to hear the grass murmuring on the breeze.
Look how kind the evening is, coming down from the maple leaves
to make the wings of the stately fireflies sparkle and sing!
translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges
Notes:
The sijo is a short Korean poetic form consisting of three lines, each line having a total of 14-16 syllables. The greatest poets of
sijo are: U Tak (1262-1342); Yi Saek (1328-1395); Hwang Jin-i (1522-1565); Yun Seondo (1587- 1671).
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To My Prince (sijo) - (English)
To My Prince (sijo) - (English)
