My year’s highlight and most significant achievement was my first time participating in National Poetry Writing Month in April. What a fantastic creative outlet that was. God willing, I intend to do it again next year.
And so to recap, and to express my gratitude to this art form I never knew was missing from my ordinary life, I wish to end the year by reposting a couple of my fave poems every Wednesday from now until the end of this blogging year. I hope you enjoy them.
SIJO, MY NEW MOJO (I GIVE YOU MY FIRST THREE) Ah, place I call home, still lacking effervescence and style. Your parks lay barren, your arts and tourists hopelessly forlorn. Moor of hope, I dream of the lub and dub of your regular heartbeat. * City I love, no other can replace your glamor. Your beautiful people, mired in isolation like lighthouses, Cannot wait, they want to be tourists in your streets once more. * Ah, lovely hometown, still devoid of a regular heartbeat. Dormant lays your chutzpah that once afforded your people a life. Beacon of light, I wish you pulsating with verve in a new norm. *** © 2021 selmamartin.com
Wow, I had fun with this new Korean poetic form introduced to me today. I could get to love this as much as I do the other forms I’ve practiced recently. Thanks so much for pointing me to this. Lovely prompt yet again. You rock, Maureen.
The optional prompt: Write a sijo. This is a traditional Korean poetic form. Like the haiku, it has three lines, but the lines are much longer. Typically, they are 14-16 syllables, and optimally each line will consist of two parts – like two sentences, or a sentence of two clauses divided by a comma. In terms of overall structure, a sijo functions like an abbreviated sonnet, in that the first line sets up an inquiry or discussion, the second line continues the discussion, and the third line resolves it with a “twist” or surprise. For more on the sijo, check out the primer here and a long list of examples in English, here.
I checked it out and enjoyed the lesson. Nowhere did I read that you can add a series of sijos, but I did– or rather, I wrote three separate ones that could act as a series or stand-alone. I hope you enjoyed them.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Happy first Wednesday of December, and may the entire month be stress-free and joyous, full of gratitude and giving, and as always, I wish you miracles. xoxo, Selma.
Photo: Image by Pexels from Pixabay
- Day 27: NaPoWriMo 2024–Opt Out of An American Sonnet - April 27, 2024
- Day 26: NaPoWriMo 2024 Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance - April 26, 2024
- Reblog: “Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl”(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley - April 26, 2024
All three sijo are gorgeous, Selma! I do the ‘beautiful people, mired in isolation like lighthouses’, Let’s hope we can visit again soon.
You know. This is the kind of encouragement I need. Thanks for giving it to me this way. Forgive my tardy acknowledgement. Be well, Kim.
I wish you miracles
You are more than welcome, Selma.
Wonderful!
Hey, Ken. Forgive the length of time it has taken me to acknowledge your comment of a year ago during NaPo2021. I appreciate it tons. Be well, dear Ken. I bless you and wish you miracles…
Ah, yes, your wish is palpable and I hope it comes true soon. A great form for you, most obviously.
So, I see you got to read my first SIJO (I’ve corrected the spelling in my recent post). This one came about last year during NaPo2021. So glad you like it. Forgive the length of time it has taken to acknowledge your comment. I bless you. Yes, I like it, but I’ve only written two so far. I will write more sijos. Thanks for the visit.
very nicely done Selma! I believe that our hometowns large or small are always special in our memories!
Yes. They are.
Thanks for reading, friend. Be well.
You are welcome. And you too!
Chutzpah a wonderful Yiddish word adopted into American English. I had written to this form before – somewhere.
I keep a file (that I need to organize better) of short forms.
May all of our towns soon wake from the imposed quiet of the last few years…
Amen to this, Jules. May its heartbeat add good rhythm to our lives. Be well. Happy month of December to you.
And may the New Year bring health and happiness!
Wonderful poem, Selma 🌺
Thanks for saying, my sweet Jane. xo
My pleasure dear Selma 🤗 xo💞
Such SPLENDID Sijos! Felt like one of those poignant songs that resonate with one’s soul effortlessly. The longing for home is real, the sense of home- unmatchable! Beautiful post as always… 💝
Sam, you’ve been missed terribly around these woods. Is everything ok with you? Don’t be pressured into anything, but do drop your penpal a line or two sometime as time permits. Climb your mountain, cross that ocean and soar, dear Sam. I’m cheering you on and wish you only the best: Miracles, of course. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Brava, & thank you for sharing your beautiful gift 💜😊
Krissy, glad you found my first SIJO that came about during last year’s NaPo2021. I loved it then and don’t understand why it took me a year to write my second one (which you so kindly have read and commented to. Thanks) I bless you and wish you miracles. xoxo
Loving the lyrical way this poem flows over my tongue and the wonderful imagery contained within!