The poem below is part of a collection of “Himalaya Poems” on the “Asymptote” website, where that magazine’s name is explained like this:
“Asymptote is the premier site for world literature in translation. We take our name from the dotted line on a graph that a mathematical function may tend toward, but never reach. Similarly, a translated text may never fully replicate the effect of the original; it is its own creative act.”
I originally read the poem on a blog that didn’t tell what century the poet was writing in, 
so I had to hunt around to find out that he is a contemporary Korean. On his own website he writes something that I can relate to: “I long not to finish my life as a poet. In other words, I wish I could be a poem at the end of the poet.”
If Ko Un does manage to set off and “walk on and on until the sun sets,” and not just write about that kind of activity, then I think he stands a good chance of turning into a poem. Especially if he gets drenched! Lately I have done a lot of walking in the rain myself, and I have begun to look forward to those wet outings. I keep wondering why that is…
One friend said something about “the ions,” and online I found numerous articles about the “health benefits” of walking in the rain. Every article counted a different number of benefits, ranging from four to nine, one number per article, and that coordinated numbering was the most interesting thing about them.
I try not to take an umbrella on my walks, because of the way an umbrella usually takes my attention from the wind and water assaulting me, and forces me to give my all to one more instance of wrestling with technology, especially if it’s the pop-up type. (However, umbrellas seem to add cheer to dark and rainy paintings.) If the day is very wet, I do merely a loop around a block or two, and change into dry clothes afterward. That’s not a pilgrimage, but it makes me feel that I am walking in a (short) poem.
YOUR PILGRIMAGE
A slower pace, a somewhat slower pace will do.
Of a sudden, should it start to rain,
let yourself get soaked.
An old friend, the rain.
One thing alone is beautiful: setting off.
The world’s too vast
to live in a single place,
or three or four.
Walk on and on
until the sun sets,
with your old accomplice,
shadow, late as ever.
If the day clouds over,
go on anyway
regardless.
-Ko Un
Gladsome Lights 
I long to be able to walk in the rain instead of wilting in the heat. I choose to swim very early in the mornings – a refreshing form of exercise.
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Love the poem!
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Dear Gretchen! This whole post is a poem. It should be looked at carefully by those of us who have never thought about walking in the rain or becoming a poem.
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I don’t mind walking a gentle rain but it seems they rarely are! And I do like a good umbrella! (But not in a windy rain — it almost becomes “what’s the point?”!
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Because of the nature of my work, and my wanderings in nature, I began not taking much account of rain about thirty years ago. If it’s absolutely pouring, I stay in, or wear rain gear. Otherwise? I just wander around, a little damp along the edges, but happy. I can’t remember the last time I used an umbrella. It must have been when I still was part of quite a different world, which means it’s also been thirty years or so. I do have one, though — just in case.
What’s really amusing, delightful, and happy-making is that my initial response to your post showed up as the first three lines of an etheree. I haven’t written one in forever; they just pop up, like early flowers. I have seven lines now. When it’s done and posted, you’ll recognize this post as the source!
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That’s something to look forward to!
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I think it’s done. There’s nothing like an hour or so at a car dealership to provide a little time for poetry!
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We have little chance to walk in the rain here in SoCal, except for the last two years! Interesting about the ions and other benefits.
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That’s a lovely poem. We just returned from a post-dinner walk around a couple of blocks and a fine rain fell. I’ve not heard about the benefits of ions and such from rainy walks, but I do enjoy them if I am properly dressed.
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