Threshing ( Tajak - 타작 )
Landowner's Sijo
It's dull work but someone has to do it or they will dawdle in the shade.
Still, I'd rather sit at home with a brush in my hand instead of this pipe,
working on a portrait of the king. Why am I reduced to a watch-dog?
It's dull work but someone has to do it or they will dawdle in the shade.
Still, I'd rather sit at home with a brush in my hand instead of this pipe,
working on a portrait of the king. Why am I reduced to a watch-dog?
One Thresher's Sijo
I guess he did good in his former life for him to loaf like this now,
But it's little comfort to me hatless and pipeless under the summer sun,
Could I be reborn instead as a bird or fly, free from envy and bitterness?
Another Thresher's Sijo
The sun's a harsh landlord to us but it's kind to the rice; this harvest
means I can carry home rice for the children tonight. But is there enough
to put on the altar for the child who starved and died the year before?
The sun's a harsh landlord to us but it's kind to the rice; this harvest
means I can carry home rice for the children tonight. But is there enough
to put on the altar for the child who starved and died the year before?
For earlier postings with sijo inspired by Danwon:
Portrait of a Family
Danwon's Classroom
sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Danwon-Byeo.tajak.jpg
http://article.joins.com/article/article.asp?Total_ID=3319781
http://everything.explained.at/Danwon/
http://thewordshop.tripod.com/Sijo/sijo-index.htm
http://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/sijo_guide.html
