A Hundred Love Poems from Old Korea

Description

Korea's traditional love poetry is little known in the West. This anthology contains examples of all genres: vernacular to long lyrical poems. A witty informative commentary links the poems and sets them in context. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Dedication Acknowledgements Glossary Introduction 1 Hwangjo ka (Song of the Orioles) 2 Sǒdong yo (Sǒdong’s Song) 3 Hǒnhwa ka (Song of Presenting the Flowers) 4 Hae kasa (Song of the Sea) 5 Ch’ǒyong ka (Ch’ǒyong’s Song) 6 Chǒngǔp sa (Song of Chǒngǔp) 7 Sǒgyǒng pyǒlgok (Song of P’yǒngyang) 8 Ssanghwa chǒm (The Mandu Shop) 9 Chongsǒk ka (Chongsǒk’s Song) 10 Manjǒn ch’un (Spring Pervades the Pavilion) 11 Isang kok (Treading the Frost) 12 Kashiri (Must You Go?) 13 Yugu kok (Song of the Cuckoo) 14 Seeing Off a Friend 15 Send-off 16 Presented to a Kisaeng at a Drinking Party after an Illness 17 The Secretary Got a Beautiful Kisaeng to Bring Me Paper and Request a Poem; My Brush Flew and I Presented This 18 Moonlight white on white pear blossoms 19 Endangered Treasure 20 Waiting 21 Parting from My Love in Yangju Inn 22 Kangnam Song 23 In Imitation of an Old Song 24 Spending the Night Alone 25 I’m a fool at heart 26 Heart, what is the secret 27 Farewell to So Yanggok 28 Song to the Half-moon 29 Dream of Fond Lovers 30 Small White-pine Boat 31 I’ll cut a piece from the waist 32 Ah, what have I done? 33 When was I faithless 34 Blue stream, do not boast 35 Presented to a Kisaeng in P’yǒngyang 36 Samiin kok (Love Song) 37 Sokmiin kok (Love Song Continued) 38 Parting Without Words 39 The northern sky was clear 40 What’s all this about freezing in bed? 41 Love is a lie 42 The incense in the golden censer has all burned out 43 Picking Lotus Seeds 44 To My Lord Reading in His Study 45 Kyuwǒn ka (Song of the Bitter Heart of a Woman) 46 My Wife Calls Out a Rhyme for a Poem 47 Rainy Night Medley 48 Grudging a Beloved Husband 49 My Word 50 The Sorrow of Parting 51 To My Love 52 The day we parted, I cannot say 53 Presented Playfully to Someone by the Road 54 I’ve cut a mountain willow, my love 55 Song of the Lotus Seeds 56 Wife, wife, since the day we wed 57 Look at that girl in blouse and patterned skirt 58 Perhaps I am a magnet 59 Of all the dogs around me, spotted, black and hairy 60 Ah, the variety 61 Within the higher ranks of the military office 62 Eat, she says, her rotten bean-curd pancakes, fried in cold water 63 Listen to me, girl 64 I lay my head on the pillow 65 I’ll never forget the boy 66 What is love like? 67 Look at the butterfly, how it dances for the flower 68 Butterfly, let’s go to the green mountain 69 I’m leaving now 70 Flower, trust not in beauty 71 Girl, don’t be haughty 72 A snow moon fills the window 73 Moon, round moon, moon that shines 74 Fair as a flower 75 Girl, I’ve painted a plum tree 76 On the evidence of last night’s encounter 77 Ride a horse through a field of flowers 78 Holding up the hem of her purple mantle 79 My horse is neighing for the road 80 When my love and I parted 81 With tears I beg you: don’t brush aside 82 Parting turns to fire 83 The anchor is raised 84 Like a hen-pheasant chased by a hawk 85 Iced rice water 86 Last night I slept alone, curled like a shrimp 87 Cock, don’t crow. I’ll take off my clothes 88 Dog, black dog, fool of a dog 89 My thundering love I meet 90 When I grasp my girl’s wrist 91 Six crock bowls the bride smashed 92 It is the third watch. The girl in the bridal bedroom is so gentle 93 Ah, I saw him 94 The monk that slept here must, after all, have been a man 95 Rip your black robe asunder; fashion a pair of breeches 96 On the road that twists beneath the pines 97 ‘Ahem, who’s there?’ comes cough and query 98 Song of Fidelity 99 Song of Dissipation 100 Song of Pent-up Feelings 101 Song of Sangwǒlli 102 The Pain of the Fisherman’s Wife 103 Lady Pyǒn Sungae was slender and lovely; she was also prudent … 104 How could the heart that loved the flower 105 Spring returns Notes Index of First Lines Index of Poets Bibliography