Onesummerevening,QueenMinbetiptoedalongthegarden path,
escapingqueenlyduties.Shewasalonebutforherroyalbodyguard,
Chun-So,a noiselessshadow.Moonlightguidedherawayfrom clanking
palacesoldiers.Noshoutingcourtofficialsfollowed,wavingpetitions to
sign.Nota potorpan rattled
intheroyalkitchenannouncing
somefestivalforthenext day.
Inthegarden’squiet,the queenINKYUNG JU,theSillacapitalofKorea,thereliveda queen.This
queenwasfamousforherwisdomandkindrule—andherears. They
wereasbigaselephantears.Infact,onhotsummerdaysthequeen
wouldflapherearsfasterthanbee’swingstocoolthepalace.Having
suchgiantflapperswasn’talwaysgood.Nomatterhowmuchcotton she
stuffedintothem,thewhisperofa singleleafdriftingtoearth echoed
liketemplebellsinherenormousears.QueenMinbesufferedsuch
terribleheadachesfromthenoisesofthepalacethatit wasdifficult
forhertothinkandrulewiselyattimes.Therewasbutoneplace she
escapedthesenoisyheadaches—thepalacegardenatnight.She would
gotherewhilehersubjectsslepttosoakupthesilence.by b. C. bond
IllustratedbyVikkiChu
text© 2019 byBrianBond,art© 2019 byVikkiChuQueen Minbe and
the Cricket
SILLA IS ONE
OF THE THREE
ANCIENT KINGDOMS
OF KOREA30