Sijo is a Korean poetic form, similar to Haiku and Tanka. They were originally written as songs and often had musical accompaniment. The three lines could multiply by two and become a six-line poem with each line being no more than 10 syllables; and the poem itself can be divided into three parts: 1) introduction to the theme, story, or idea of the poem; 2) a “turn” in the poem; and 3) the “twist” as the closure of the poem.
The Camper
The looming cliffs cast shadows
as the moon rises on the ridge.
Night sounds drift on chill breezes;
hoots and howls cutting through the mist.
Here on my street corner
I zip my tent and wait for morning light.
