Originally posted to the fedi on September 27, 2021. David McCann’s lecture about this sijo inspired some of my choices for this translation.
靑山裏 碧溪水야 수이 감을 자랑마라
Thou crystal stream from verdant mount,
quit bragging on your easy flow.
一到滄海하면 다시 오기 어려웨라
Once embraced by azure expanse,
you’re not coming round no more.
明月이 滿空山하니 쉬어 간들 어떠리
Void replete with lunar brilliance,
why not take a load off, love?
— Hwang Jinyi (1506-1567), poet, artist, performer and courtesan.