Sijo Poetry of Traditonal Korea
 A flock of sparrows, chattering 
In the after sunset dusk. 
Half a branch would do 
For birds as small as you. 

What is the good of squabbling  
Over such a big bush? 

ANONYMOUS
These few shoots cut from a mountain willow, 
I send to you, my love   
Plant them under your window, 
Watch over them 

And when night rain falls on tender leaves, 
Think of me. 

HONG NANG 

 What is love like? 
Is it round or is it square? 
Long or short? Is there more 
To measure than what I'm stepping on? 

You may not think it lasts long 
But I can't see where it ends. 

ANONYMOUS
Long and lonely December night, 
I wish I could cut you in two, 
And keep one half under my covers, 
Warm and sweetly scented, 

So I might add it to a shorter night 
When my love sleeps here with me. 

HWANG CHINI

 If teardrops were pearls, 
I would catch them as they fell. 
Ten years from now, when my love returns, 
We could live in a castle of pearl! 

What a shame that tears are lost  
As soon as they drop 

ANONYMOUS 
I have lived up half my life already 
And I know I can't be young again 
But I'd like to stop right here 
And not grow older 

Try, white hair, to understand 
Slow down your pace at least 

YI MYUNG-HAN 
 

 You, blue stream, flowing around mountains, 
Do not be proud of moving so swiftly. 
Once you get to the open sea, 
You will never be able to return. 

Why not stop for a moment while the bright moon 
Gleams down on the world? 

HWANG CHINI
Am I really old, as people say? 
I wonder if old people feel this way. 
I am happy in a field of flowers; 
It only takes a cup of wine to cheer me. 

But I cannot keep gusts of autumn wind 
From blowing throgh my white hair. 

KIM JUNG-KU

 Only half-awakened from a nap on my pine-needle bed, 
I open my sleepy eyes 
To discover seagulls swooping in and out 
Over the sunset-colored harbor. 

I wonder, am I the only one 
To know this sweet moment? 

KIM SAM-HYUN
Wind last night blew down  
A gardenful of peach blossoms. 
A boy with a broom 
Is starting to sweep them up. 
Fallen floweres are flowers still; 
Don't brush them away. 

ANONYMOUS
Let me ask you, Mind, 
What is the secret of your eternal youth? 
My body is old 
But you have no trouble keeping up with it. 

If I acted as young as I feel, 
I'm afraid everyone would laugh at me. 

ANONYMOUS

 While your parents are here, 
Love them and do your best. 
After  they are gone, there's no use crying 
Over undone acts of love. 

There are things  
You can't make up for. 

CHUNG CHUL 
I'd like to carve a moon
Out of my heart
And hang it ninety thousand miles
High in the sky

So it would shine on the place
Where my love is tonight.

CHUNG CHUL