This is the second week of the new form of poetry Ron has set for us to try. Yes, the Décima Challenge has come to an end after 100 weeks.
Now we have the Sijo, a Korean form believed to have first been used in the fourteenth century. It is similar in structure to various Japanese forms such as Haiku. As with many forms of poetry, the Sijo became a preferred poetry form of the yangban or ruling class as well as royalty. They were written in Chinese and were originally short songs set to music. The focus of the Sijo is usually nature and contemplation. We’ll try that to begin with.
You should use the word in the title of this post as your inspiration as either a theme of the Sijo or in the poem itself.
There are:
- Three Lines
- 14-16 syllables per line
- A total of 44-46 syllables for the entire poem.
To know how many syllables in a particular word try HowManySyllables.com.
- The first line of the Sijo usually sets the theme.
- The second line elaborates on the first line.
- The third line brings the poem matter to a close.
The setting can be nature, a favorite season, or some event of your day. Something, as I mentioned above that can be contemplative in nature.
Within each of the three lines there is usually a pause. Reading your Sijo out loud will help with using the correct form. I have my pauses punctuated by commas and full stops.
Three days into Spring. Clear blue skies not a cloud to be seen.
I stand in the garden, feeling the sun’s warmth on my face.
All around me new life bursts forth. Green grass sprouts and colourful flowers.
38 words
45 syllables
204 characters.
willowdot21 
