The Fisherman's Calendar by Yun Sondo - HTML preview

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COMPOSED EXTEMPORE: SELF REFLECTION
(Seven character, Yulshi)




This poem is Yulshi for all practical purposes although the third rhyme is a little problematical. The rhyme is ch’o/cho/ch’o/yo; tones match; parallel expression is clear in the second couplet, and while not as clear in the English of the third couplet, it is clear in the hanmun. Blue clouds refer to success as an official.



I laugh at the blue sky and my heart is unencumbered,

but a look back on life’s road fills me with gloom.

The family[4] blames me for the poverty of our household;

the market women mock me for my awful drinking habits.

To me, the affairs of the world are flowers flying in the wind; 

all I’ve ever had in life is the bright moon.

Such is destiny’s store;

little by little I realize that blue clouds are not for me.