literature

Korean Sijo-poetic form

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Literature Text

The Korean Sijo is a form of lyric poetry.  It uses parallels between nature and humanity.  Common poetic tools used in the form are: wit, double entendre, puns, consonance, and assonance.  The common structure one encounters usually is the event/turn/twist+conclusion which ties everything together.  There are three lines with a major pause at the half for each.  It has a minimum of 44 syllables and some leeway for 1-2 syllables more or less.

basic structure:

3  4 major pause 4  4
3  4 major pause 4  4
3  5 major pause 4  3

This structure is based on phrasal syllables.

Here are some translated sijo by Jaihiun Kim:

When pear-blossoms were raining down
we parted with tearful hugs.
Now an autumn wind knocks off the leaves
and I wonder if my love thinks of me.
Only my lonely dream comes and goes
a thousand leagues between us.

by Kyerang (Kisaeng-similar to geisha)


Two stone buddhas by the roadside
face each other, naked and unfed.
Though they stand unprotected
against wind, rain, snow and frost,
I envy them because they do not know
the pain of separation.

by Chong, Ch'ol (an old politician and poet)


I pluck a willow branch
and sent it to you.
Plant it by your windowside
and watch it grow.
When buds appear after a rain
take them for me.

by Hongnang (Kisaeng)

In old Korean poetry women are often represented as flowers and the men as butterflies.  One can assume for obvious reasons why that is, so I won't go any further on that.  This post is really my means of passing on to others this poetic form that often gets overlooked versus haiku.  Hope people can decipher this and make their own poems from it.
My attempt to pass on some korean art culture to the masses.

my poor attempt here at an updated one fav.me/d69txjb

here's one more closer to what they should be like fav.me/d75zj86
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elliotbuttons's avatar
elliotbuttons.deviantart.com/a… my first attempt.  Lacking in wit, puns etc but I was concentrating on the syllables and the line break.