The Orchid Door: Ancient Korean Poems by Tr. Joan S.Grigsby - HTML preview

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A Flower of The Hills

Hyang-nang. (Date Uncertain)




Hyang-nang was the daughter of a farmer in the Sanghyung Valley. She had a beautiful nature and was especially observant of the rules governing duty toward parents. Yet she was hated by her stepmother, by her overbearing husband, and by her nagging mother-in-law who finally drove her to suicide. Hyang-nang went alone to a rock above the river. There she wrote the following poem which, with her cloak and skirt, she gave to an old woman who was gathering wood. Her shoes were found on the bank of the river.


High, high is the sky above my head.

Broad, broad is the earth; deep blue the sea.

In all the meadows happy wild flowers spread

Their tinted smiles. Yet not one smile for me.

Beneath this rocky pool there will be rest.

Among the waterweeds there will be room

Even for me. Above my weary breast

The little silver fish will build my tomb.