- Chon Chkhol (Korea, 16 th. century)
- Translated by V. Homenyuk.
Harmonies of Silence
1
- I’ve touched the comungo one tender string
- With a little stick of flexible tamboo –
- And sound’s flowed as a vernal stream,
- Which under ice at a sprit purls all the time.
- And it’s got heard: as echo to the tune
- The rain was dribbling over lotus leaves.
2
- All rainy day a heavy autumn storm
- Against the lotus leaves was lashing, beating.
- But it has left no sign.
- They’re clean and chaste.
- And thee, be so pure, my poor sole
- As lotus leaves so wide… so wise.
3
- From a haughty tower that’s soaring hitherto
- Above eight centuries, above their glory,
- Remote tones of a silver bell
- Touch my secluded arbour at a steep
- Resound over peaceful quiet fields
- In unison with silence of the night.
4
- It’s snowing – white and cold flowers
- Are blooming on the fluffy pine-trees branches.
- I’ll take the gorgeous one
- To gift my sweetheart.
- Let her admire them an instant –
- And after that they’ll thaw forever.