Learn to Write a Sijo and Enter a Free International Competition

I hadn’t heard of sijong (that’s the plural) before last week but I’m intrigued by this traditional Korean poetic form.

Here’s a 17th century example (translated from Korean)

You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine. (2-6-4-4)
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade. (2-4-4-6)
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask? (2-5, 5-3)

The US based, Sejong Cultural Society run an international competition.
They explain:
The traditional Sijo is written in three lines, each averaging 14-16 syllables for a total of 44-46 syllables. Each line is written in four groups of syllables that should be clearly differentiated from the other groups, yet still flow together as a single line.

When written in English, sijo may be written in six lines, with each line containing two syllable groupings instead of four…

The first line states the theme of the poem, where a situation is generally introduced.

The second line is an elaboration of the first line’s theme or situation.

The third line is divided into two sections. The first section, the counter-theme, is grouped as 3-5, while the second part, considered the conclusion of the poem, is written as 4-3. The counter-theme is called the ‘twist,’ which is usually a surprise in meaning, sound, or other device.

Here’s last year’s winning entry from Josh Poole (and if this doesn’t inspire you, nothing will)

My Father’s Change

Father, how much you like to talk
    About how strong you used to be

How once, as a young man
    You arm wrestled men in bars for quarters

Take my hand, the bathtub is slick
    Pretend it’s still all for quarters

Here’s details of the competition.
Sijo must be written in English. Only one entry per applicant. Free to enter
Prizes
Winner: $500 USD.
Runner-up: $250 USD.
Honorable Mentions: $100 USD.
“Organized both technically and thematically by line and syllable count, sijo are expected to be phrasal and lyrical, as they are first and foremost meant to be songs. Each line is written in four groups of syllables that should be clearly differentiated from the other groups, yet still flow together as a single line.”
Deadline September 30, 2023
Enter and find out a lot more about sijo HERE

What can I add…except small is beautiful (and hard)

Photo credits:
1) Unseen Studio on Unsplash
2) Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash