underlying kim's poetic undertaking is the poet's candid desire to provide a sense of dignity to the rural community. this approach, however, has rendered the poet vulnerable to criticism as anachronistic and incapable of offering a solution to the harsh realities of modern society. kim's desire for community, however, possesses a straightforward quality otherwise lacking in the sometimes convoluted theories of modernity. kim's stance affirms the spirit of the people, whom he believes derive their identity and dignity from a long history of agrarian life. the robust critical spirit of his poetry derives from his use of the jeolla-do dialect in poetic forms such as gasa, taryeong, and pansori. this combined use of dialect, proverbs, and colloquialisms strengthens the sense of rural community in kim's poetry. the use of traditional rhythms, furthermore, endows kim's poetry with the power to engender tension, rage, and laughter.