The springtime mountain is on fire;
buds are burning unopened.
Enough water is at hand
to vanquish the headland blaze.
But smokeless embers in my heart
rage beyond all water.
Notes
Poem Genre: Sijo
Poem Origin: Korea, 1596
Poem translation © 2002 by Dr. Larry Gross
This translation is not in the public domain.
Kim fought valiantly against the Japanese invasion led by Gen. Hideyoshi in 1592, but in 1596 he was falsely accused of treason and was imprisoned until his death at 28. Reportedly, he wrote this poem while in prison. The fire refers to the Hideyoshi invasion, and the buds to the young men sacrificed in battle.
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This is just great. I'll bet it's so much better in its original language.
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