The Thirtieth Day of the First Month: A Letter to Yatang and Ujae

Yun Sojong

On the thirtieth day of the first month—
One day and one night,
Every night I dream of two friends.
Waking, my heart trembles.

During my afternoon slumber,
Both friends call to me with warm welcome.
We meet but cannot finish even a single word
Before I open my eyes to find myself alone.

Winter's sun cannot set,
Summer's night cannot dawn—
A hundred and twenty marks of dark and light,
Each one draining away my soul.

Ulsan Ridge rises verdant in the distance,
Yet Mount Song stretches so far away.
Over a thousand miles the road extends,
And the sky between us grows ever more distant.

Three years have passed since we parted,
And my youthful face withers day by day.
The phoenix has flown toward the southern pole,
Leaving only owls in my sight.
Amid the chaos, we fled to the grass,
And the gifts of the court now seem but a dream.

Who would hear if I spoke?
Wise counsel lies buried in silence.

Oh, that I might grow wings upon my back,
Catch the wind of heaven,
And drift away to follow you—
Riding upon celestial dragons to the purple heights,
Drawing forth the river of heaven,
Ladling it with the Big Dipper's spoon,
Pouring it upon this thirsty earth
So it would never burn again.

Then I would follow you in song and wine,
While all around us drums would sound,
And we would wander the whole year through,
Washing away all sorrow and worry.

But since reunion lies beyond my power,
I can only gaze and sing this endless song.