Heavenly King Summit by Kim Young-jae

The ascent was far and long
but I stayed there only a moment–
the place that I used to see only from afar,
having never climbed;
the top of my life
that I wished to climb surely once.

Who would climb this rough mountain road on my behalf?
Breaking my two knees, I have rid myself of foolish ways.
The world lies silent below the mountain;
looking at it, oh, I break myself again.

This and many other inspiring Korean poems translated into English can be found here on Korean Poetry in Translation.