Friday, April 01, 2005
Classical Korean Poems - 시조 모음 (WATCHING THE STARS by NO, CH`ONMYONG)
WATCHING THE STARS
As a tree tilts heavenward
So we must go watching the stars overhead,
Though our feet kick dust on the ground.
What if you should be placed
Higher than the next fellow?
What if your name should be made
Greater than those of others?
What if you should take revenge on your enemy?
All end in trifles
Not worth a penny for a drink.
We must go ahead watching the stars overhead
Though our feet kick dust on the ground.
-- From "Korean Poetry Today : Selected and
translated with an introduction by Jaihiun J. Kim"
at UCB East Asian Library (PL 959.5 K68 1987 EAST)
==> No, Ch'onmyong ( 노 천명, 1913-1957)
Born in Chang'yon, Hwanghae province, No began writing while she was at
Ehwa Womens University. Affiliated with 'The Poetry Garden', No distinguished
herself as a rare talent and a great woman poet. Single all her life through,
No made her solitude and self-torture her weapon against the hostile universe.
In 'The Song of Deer' she outgrows the netting solitude and introspection
and enters the world of love and repentance. Her work includes 'The Coral
Reefs' (1938), 'The Window Side' (1945), 'Looking at the Stars' (1953), 'The
Song of Deer' (1959) and 'Complete Works by No Ch`on-myong' (1960)
As a tree tilts heavenward
So we must go watching the stars overhead,
Though our feet kick dust on the ground.
What if you should be placed
Higher than the next fellow?
What if your name should be made
Greater than those of others?
What if you should take revenge on your enemy?
All end in trifles
Not worth a penny for a drink.
We must go ahead watching the stars overhead
Though our feet kick dust on the ground.
-- From "Korean Poetry Today : Selected and
translated with an introduction by Jaihiun J. Kim"
at UCB East Asian Library (PL 959.5 K68 1987 EAST)
==> No, Ch'onmyong ( 노 천명, 1913-1957)
Born in Chang'yon, Hwanghae province, No began writing while she was at
Ehwa Womens University. Affiliated with 'The Poetry Garden', No distinguished
herself as a rare talent and a great woman poet. Single all her life through,
No made her solitude and self-torture her weapon against the hostile universe.
In 'The Song of Deer' she outgrows the netting solitude and introspection
and enters the world of love and repentance. Her work includes 'The Coral
Reefs' (1938), 'The Window Side' (1945), 'Looking at the Stars' (1953), 'The
Song of Deer' (1959) and 'Complete Works by No Ch`on-myong' (1960)
# posted by speattle @ 9:38 PM 
