H
e a r t S o n s & H e a r t
D a u g h t e r s of
A l l e n G i n s b e r g
N
a p a l m H e a l t h S p a : R
e p o r t 2 0 1 4 : A r c h i v e s E d i t i o n
GARY ALLEN
Selected Translations of Classical Korean
Shijo
I tie my boat along the Jinhwe & find a
riverfront tavern.
The hostess doesn’t know the nation’s about to
shatter into ruins.
She sings “The Pleasure Garden Song” as mist
hangs on the river,
Moon on the sand.
––Ko Kyong-myong (1533-1592)
“O Monk!” I call. “How was the scenery
across the Eastern Pass?”
“There’s nothing but wild red roses in leagues
of shining sand, &
Above a distant bay pairs of white gulls wing in
the threading rain.”
––Shin Wee (1769-1847)
Deciding to sell my poverty, I arrive at
the aristocrat’s gate.
But who will cut a deal without turning a
profit?
Though asked, I refused to hand over this
river & mountain,
this moon &
the wind.
––Jo Chan-han (1572-1631)
How many worlds have come into being & who
were their heroes?
Everything that’s risen & fallen for 10,000
years feels like a momentary dream.
How can you tell such an old man not to
party?
––Jo Chan-han (1572-1631)
a black branch dripping rain;
The silent hour
everything else revolves around, rushes
past
So much
half-finished
half-begun
marginalia
&
messes
of the human you were/are/will be
&
still
the
white heron
encroached
upon
by industry
alone
among bulrushes
unmoved
in its pristine sphere
––Chungju
(1959- )
[Originally
published in NHS 2002, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs02/allen.html.]