SATURDAY POETRY — KOREAN SIJO

The Welcoming Heart of Love

Waiting for the prodigal child to return

Created in Canva by Nancy Blackman

My heart stands at love’s still door. You will appear. Prodigal child.

My heart knows, as soul whispers, “do not lose hope.” Spirit, guide me.

Oh dear, no! Do my eyes deceive? No, no, it’s you, prodigal child.

This poem is Korean Sijo (pronounced shee-jo) poetry, which follows a three-line pattern of a total of 44–46 syllables broken up into the following:

1st line 3–4–4 (or 3)-4 = 14–15 syllables

2nd line 3–4–4 (or 3)-4 = 14=15 syllables

3rd line 3–5–4–3 = 15 syllables

The format of Sijo poetry is that in the 3rd line there is a twist at the beginning that gets resolved by the end. And, the beginning of the 3rd line always has three syllables.

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