Poet Dr. Kang, Byeong-Cheol is a Korean author and poet, born in Jeju City, South Korea, in 1964. He began writing in 1993, publishing his first short story, “Song of Shuba,” at the age of twenty-nine. He released a collection of short stories in 2005 and has since won eight literature awards and published more than 12 books. From 2009 to 2014, he served as a member of The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International. Additionally, he worked as an editorial writer for NewJejuIlbo, a newspaper in Jeju City, Korea. He holds a PhD in Political Science and currently serves as the Vice President of The Korean Institute for Peace and Cooperation. Moreover, he holds the position of founding President of the Korean Association of World Literature.
The Soaring Eagle
A flock of crows in dark disguise,
With jealous hearts and spiteful cries,
Ascend to claw the eagle’s flight
But falter in the blinding light.
They do not know how high he flies,
Nor see the wisdom in his eyes.
They grasp not purpose, strength, or grace
They only chase what they can’t face.
The eagle climbs in silent might,
Riding winds to endless height.
The crows grow tired, drop one by one,
Their foolish game is lost and done.
A noble soul, so pure and wide,
Will never drift with envy’s tide.
It walks alone, but walks with fire
On paths that reach forever higher.
You are the eagle, calm and wise,
Above the noise, above the lies.
You do not fight with birds below;
Your silence says what words can’t show.
No answer to their bitter breath,
No counter to their rage or death.
You rise instead beyond their call,
Where only quiet skies enthrall.
They shriek and flail, they mock and sneer,
But all dissolve when you draw near.
And with compassion, not with pride,
You watch them fall, and gently glide.
The sky is vast, the stars are few
Not all who flap can follow through.
So now I ask, with heart made true
Where do your wings carry you?
And where does your spirit settle into?
