I haven’t written a sijo in a bit so I thought I would write some for today’s post. In case you don’t know or need a refresher course on what a Sijo is it is a traditional Korean form of poetry.
It has a syllabic structure with each line containing 14 – 16 syllables. Each line of the poem has a specific purpose. Line one introduces the topic. Line two develops it further. Line three contains some kind of twist – humor or irony, an unexpected image, a pun, or a play on words.
Here are a few of mine:
Weather Yesterday the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky. Birds chirped merrily and flowers poked their heads out of the ground. Today swirling snow makes seeing across the street difficult. Brown It takes it time as if it has all the time in the world. The opaque brown liquid slowly fills the glass container. Meanwhile, I anxiously await my first cup of hot coffee. Emergency Sirens blaring and lights flashing quickly draw my attention. What emergency is happening in our neighborhood. I guess I had better emerge 'n see what's going on.
arjeha 
Thanks for sharing. I’m always looking for new (to me) poetic forms to share with my creative writers.
I first heard of these at an NCTE conference. I like the simplicity of them and the little twist at the end.
Ooh! I had forgotten about sijo, thanks for the reminder. “Weather” was perfect for this time of year. Brown is my everyday. The shift from the OMG! to the Meh of “Emergency” made me laugh, I felt that in my ‘whatever dude…’ NYC bones. 😀
These are fun to write. I like to work backwards. Knowing the twist I want to use helps me write the first two lines.
Had not heard of this form before… and there’s a whole book of them in addition to your examples!! Thanks for sharing!
I learned this style at an NCTE conference. I thought it was fun.
Thanks for sharing! I’d never heard of a sijo before. Now I need to try it.
It is fun trying to come up with a twist at the end.
I just ordered this book from “Better World…” I love this form, and Linda Sue Park. With April right around the corner, and an awareness of syllables always on my teacher-mind, I can’t wait to take this out for a spin. The weather Sijo brings such memories of living in NJ, and coffee? Why just this morning…
There are lots of fun poems in this book covering so many different topics. Enjoy.
Your first sijo fits perfectly for Estonian weather too. I admit I had never heard of sijo before. Thank you for educating me.
These are fun to read as well as fun to write.
I love your trip of sijo here. I love this structure, and I’m definitely adding it to my “to try” list.
They are fun to write and fun to read.
Oh. And. Line 3 of poem 3? Yeah. I see what you did there. ; )
I was looking for something different for that third poem.
You got it!
Oohhh I need to try this, love it!
They are fun and not really that hard to write. Hope you post some when you write them.
Clever! I loved emerge ‘n see!
Thank you.
I just read Linda Sue Park’s new book The One Thing You’d Save which is also written as sijo poems.
I need to check this out. Thanks.
I love your poems! This is a new form of poetry for me. I should start collecting poem posts from the SOL challenge! Lots of people are writing poems this year.
I, too, have noticed lots of poems this year. I enjoy writing sijo. They are fur to write and fun to read.
I have never heard of this form before. I am so glad you shared this! I’m writing the format down in my notebook for future writing. Your coffee poem had the best twist! THANK YOU for this slice!!
These are fun poems to write. The twist at the end makes them fun to read as well.
Thank you for reminding me of this form, which I’d like to revisit (filing this away for next month in case I participate in a poetry writing challenge.) I love the twist in the coffee poem and it reminded me of my own mornings standing anxious in front of the pot waiting for that first cup!
I enjoy this form of poetry because I like the twist at the end.
Bob, I read that you learned this at an NCTE conference. There is so much to learn at those conferences. I think I will have to give this format a try.
Yes, Carol. NCTE offers so much it just boggles the mind.
I’ve never heard of a sijo, and I LOVE poetry! I can’t wait to try this out! It seems like a very powerful form. You’re the second slicer to introduce me to a new form; years ago, I learned about Tanka poetry from a fellow slicer, and I loved trying that.
Your weather one was my favorite!
Thank you. They are fun to write and fun to read.
Wonderful, I must try it . Thank you for sharing.