A sijo is a short Korean poem with three lines.
Each line has a meaningful beat, and the last line has a twist. Think of a melody or song style poem.
Line 1: Setup
Introduce the idea or scene.
Line 2: Development
Add detail or build on the idea.
Line 3: Twist + Ending
Add a surprise or change, then finish the thought.
A traditional sijo has 14–16 syllables per line, but you don’t need to count exactly to start.
If you want a strict pattern:
Line 1: 3syllables + 4 + 4 + 4
Line 2: 3 + 4 + 4 + 4
Line 3: 3 + 5, 4 + 3
For example here is my original sijo:
Bodies fall, rivers run red, hell in valleys, till we’re all dead.
Standing here, clouds roll over, mountain tops show, what’s left over,
of heaven, perhaps the closest, we’ll ever be, glory be!
Lets break it down:
Line 1: 3 / 4 / 4 / 4
This sets a brutal, violent scene. It’s vivid and immediate.
Bodies fall (3)
rivers run red (4)
hell in the valleys (4)
till we’re all dead (4)
Line 2: 3 / 4 / 4 / 4
This line shifts to my perspective and introduces the mountain scene.
Standing here (3)
clouds roll over (4)
mountain tops show(4)
what’s left over (4)
Line 3: 3 / 5 // 4 / 3
The twist is that heaven is not far away, it’s in the moment, even amid death.
of heaven(3)
perhaps the closest (5)
we’ll ever be. (4)
glory be! (3)
Give it a try and tag us on BlueSky or Threads #sijo @gabriellev.art
For details visit the Sejong Cultural Societies website they have in depth details and references to write a sijo poem https://www.sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/resources/sijo_links.php
Even Basho one of the most famous Haiku poets and even considered the father of haiku himself bent the rules.
