Sijo poems
When I was in third grade, a student teacher did an activity with us where she taught us about the a new form of poetry from Korea called sijo ("SEE-ho") poems. (If someone knows the pronunciation as different, please let me know; this is how she pronounced it.) It's like a haiku, but a bit longer and a bit more open.
A sijo poem has three lines, all of which have 14-16 syllables each. In each line, there is a lot of freedom in how a poet can say what they want, but there's still a basic pattern with each poem that is rooted in tradition. Typically, the first line sets the theme of the poem, the second line elaborates and offers another perspective, and the final line presents a conclusion. It's also typical for the first two lines to follow a 3-4-4-4 lyrical grouping pattern. Regardless of that, the final line almost always gives a syllabic twist in its first half.
Some traditional examples of sijo:
From U T'ak (1262-1342)
The spring breeze melted snow on the hills then quickly disappeared.
I wish I could borrow it briefly to blow over my hair
And melt away the aging frost forming now about my ears.
From Hwang Chin-i (1522-1565)
Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night
And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt
Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns.
From Yun Seon Do (1587-1671)
You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine,
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade.
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask?
This website provides more information on this form of poetry and how to write sijo: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-sijo-poetry#3-traditional-examples-of-sijo-poetry
A sijo poem has three lines, all of which have 14-16 syllables each. In each line, there is a lot of freedom in how a poet can say what they want, but there's still a basic pattern with each poem that is rooted in tradition. Typically, the first line sets the theme of the poem, the second line elaborates and offers another perspective, and the final line presents a conclusion. It's also typical for the first two lines to follow a 3-4-4-4 lyrical grouping pattern. Regardless of that, the final line almost always gives a syllabic twist in its first half.
Some traditional examples of sijo:
From U T'ak (1262-1342)
The spring breeze melted snow on the hills then quickly disappeared.
I wish I could borrow it briefly to blow over my hair
And melt away the aging frost forming now about my ears.
From Hwang Chin-i (1522-1565)
Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night
And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt
Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns.
From Yun Seon Do (1587-1671)
You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine,
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade.
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask?
This website provides more information on this form of poetry and how to write sijo: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-sijo-poetry#3-traditional-examples-of-sijo-poetry
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