Poetry and Sleep

Korea's Poems

Terrible Dream
Kim Sowŏl (1902-1934), Translated by David R. McCann

Woke up from a terrible dream
at daybreak, in spring.
Ravens, magpies screeching, their disturbing noise.
What was it that appeared before their eyes?

Lovely spring daybreak, the grasses drenched with dew,
the whole world calm, at peace,
yet the ravens out there, and magpies screeching:
Was it that my awful dream visited them too?

While the spring winds pass quietly over the empty fields,
and on the eastern hills flower petals scatter,
hear how this woman worried by love has determined
everything is an omen meaning her ill.  

Dream
Kim Sowŏl (1902-1934), Translated by David R. McCann

Dream? Spirit's uncovering. Sorrow's home.
Cry, my love, for flowers falling, and spring growing dark.

Pear Blossoms and Nightingale
Yi Jo Nyun (1268 -1342)

Pear blossoms blush under white moonlight,
The Milky Way glitters in the midnight sky;
How, Nightingale, should you know the spring
That is budding on those branches high?
Yet you burst my heart with your passionate song
And I cannot sleep the whole night long.

Fisherman’s Pipe
Yoo Sung Wong

I lie on my back aloft the grass roof
Pilowing my head on my harp.
I feel drowsy with a fond dream
Of the noble king’s reign of peace
At the gate I hear a fisherman’s pipe
It trills a sad note and awakens me from sleep.

The Water Wails
Wang Bang Yun

Ten thousand li, far, far away
I lost my fair young lord,
My heart can find no rest,.
As I sit by this stream
The water is my inner thoughts –
It wails throughout my dream

Fishing Moon
Yi Jung (1454-1488)

When night falls on the autumn river
The ripples are lulled to sleep
I cast a hook and line
But no fish rose to take the bait
With a full load of unfeeling moonbeams
The empty boat sails home

The Prince is Coming Home
Yi Jung Hwan

In the midnight silence I rise with joy,
And ask thee, in my dream
From Liaoyang ten thousand li away
How didst thou now come home?
O, happiness! The angelic sight, on a crane’s back
I meet thee face to face

Cricket’s Spirit
Pak Hyo Gwan (mid-19th century)

In my fond dreams of my lord,
I’ll become the spirit of a cricket
In the long, deep night of autumn
I’ll enter his room as a bride
If he has forgotten me and is fast asleep
I’ll wake him with my quivering chirrup.

In dreams we come and Go
Yi Mae Chang (1573-1610)

When pear blossoms were falling in spring rain,
Weeping, I clung to thy strength in a fond farewell,.
Now autumn scatters the leaves with pain –
Ah ! Dost thou miss me in thy heart as well?
A thousand Li apart, and so
Only in dreams we come and go

Ho, Butterfly
Anonymous

Ho! Butterfly! Come up the hill
And Tiger-Butterfly! You come up, too
If the sun goes down as it surely will
We shall find a flower for sleeping will do
If the flower frowns, it is my belief
We can rest quite well beneath a leaf

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