Sijo songs by Chŏng Ch’ŏl (1536–1593)
   #s 811, 402, 1221, 93, 2281

In the water below, a shadow strikes;

above, on the bridge, a monk is crossing.

O monk, stop there!

Let me ask about where you are going.

With his staff, he points toward the white clouds

and goes on, not turning to look back.

The tears she weeps for her dead husband

flow down over her breasts;

The milk tastes salty,

her child fusses and complains.

Poor thing! What is the purpose behind

turning out to be a woman?

Snow has fallen in the pine woods,

every branch blooming.

I shall break off one bough

and send it to the place where my love stays.

If he just sees it once,

what matter if it all melts away?

Rivers, lakes, buoyant

the gull is.

Unexpectedly, spittle spat

falls on the gull’s back.

O gull, do not be angry.

The ways of the world are filthy.

DRINKING SONG

Have a drink, won’t you have another drink?

Pluck flowers to keep count, drink and drink and drink.

After this body dies, in a straw mat covered and roped to a

pack frame
or carried along on a bier as thousands weep,

it will pass among willows, rushes, and oaks,

and when the sun shines yellow, the moon white,

rain drizzles down, or chill winds whirl the heavy snows,

who will say “Have a drink?”

And when some monkey sadly whistles on your grave,

what good will regrets be then?