In the absence of an authentic chronology of composition, Kim Sakkat editors usually present the poems in a random order based on theme: poems composed on the road, animal poems, satirical poems and so on. These categories are not very satisfactory. Many overlap. Almost all the poems seem to have been composed on the road, which makes the road theme superfluous, and individual poems are at home in two or three sections. Convenience, however, demands some classifications. The following are the thematic divisions used in this volume.
Introductory Poem
Manipulating the Characters
Natural Harmony
Objects of Satire
Love Poems
Personal Poems
Sundry Items
Insects and Animals Miscellaneous
Scatological Poems
The term P’agyŏk, meaning unprecedented, is used to note a poem that is plainly at odds with the tradition; it marks the kind of fun poem that is typical of Kim Sakkat.