The next morning
there was the sound of coins
One
Two
Three
I was worth
exactly that sound
I walked behind the cart
Only the master had changed
the walking was the same
Market to market
dust to dust
They struck the gong
wore masks
walked the tightrope
I did not speak
They did not ask
At night someone
put the gong in my hand
"Hit it."
I hit it wrong
I hit it again
wrong again
How to strike it straight
nobody taught me
The day the first show was set up
someone held out a mask to me
The yangban mask
Smiling eyes
a sagging jaw
a face held high
I knew that face
The face I had grown up looking at
I held it a long while
then put it on
Inside the mask
I heard only my own breath
When the gong rings
the show opens
When the mask goes on
the mouth opens
Laugh
Eolssigu
Laugh
Jota
As long as they are laughing
nobody can catch me
I walked
like my father
Chin up
sleeves shaken out
one little cough
His Excellency is coming
clear the road
In front of the one who must smile first
smile first
Someone shouted
"Once more!"
The same words
as that night
But this time
I decide
Joined hands with traitors—
threw the realm into disorder—
The crime is grave
let it be punished severely!
Write it down
and a man dies
Sing it
and a man laughs
When I was a nobleman's son
I had to choose my words
Say less in front of this one
swallow it in front of that one
With the mask on
there was nothing to hide
The high official's walk
the magistrate's lies
how to erase a man
with one brush
I said it all
They laughed at it all
Nobody
could catch me
When the gong rings
the show opens
When the mask goes on
the mouth opens
Laugh
Eolssigu
Laugh
Jota
As long as they are laughing
nobody can catch me
When the show was over
someone asked
"What is your name?"
I said my name
"And your surname?"
"I have none."
From that day
this is what people called me
Talswe!
Writing has an owner
A song has none