Your Daily Poem

This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you! Visit our home page every day to see a different poem.

Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!

The River Darkens on an Autumn Night
by
Yi Jung

The river darkens on an autumn night
And the waves subside as if to sleep.
I drop a line into the water
But the sleepy fish won't bite.

The empty boat and I return
Filled with our catch of moonlight.

Jung's original poem is in the public domain.
This translation by Virginia Olsen Baron and Chang Seuk Park is included in Ms. Baron's book,
Sunset in a Spider Web: Sijo Poetry of Ancient Korea (Henry Holt & Co., 1974).

No biographical information has been found about this poet. If you can help, we'd love to to know more about Yi Jung.

Eiken:
Really beautiful, did not expect the ending, superb.
Posted 10/10/2011 04:01 AM

nadia ibrashi:
Lovely. Thanks.
Posted 10/05/2011 11:36 PM

LindaCrosfield:
This is an example of why poetry can last and last and last. Beautiful way to start the day.
Posted 10/05/2011 10:00 AM

dianapoet:
I like it!
Posted 10/05/2011 09:38 AM

dotief@comcast.net:
Love it! So few words, such wonderful images!
Posted 10/05/2011 08:39 AM

tannerlynne:
Ah!
Posted 10/05/2011 07:41 AM

KevinArnold:
Haunting, the word 'catch' doing a lot of work.
Posted 10/05/2011 04:24 AM

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