White Banners
Sung Sam-moon. (Circa 1420 A.D.)
Sung Sam-moon was one of three men prominently connected with the making of King Se-jong’s alphabet. When Tang-jong, Se-jong’s grandson, came to the throne a rebellion broke out. Se-jo, uncle of the young king, seized the kingdom and eventually strangled his nephew. Sung Sam-moon, a fine scholar and a loyal subject, suffered martyrdom in the cause of Tang-jong.
Throughout his life Sung Sam-moon made a practice of writing down his thoughts in poetic form. He wrote his last poem as he rode out of the city in the death cart on his way to execution. The title of this poem alludes to the long white streamers or banners which always decorate an execution cart. The name of the condemned man is painted on these banners in black characters.
The long white banners flutter on the breeze.
Drums roll and boom to speed my life away.
Here, there and everywhere are grinning lips
And mocking eyes.
I watch the sinking sun.
Where shall I rest when all my pain is ended?
There are no inns within the Yellow Shades—
Where I shall sleep tonight no man can tell.