sijo (traditional Korean poetry)

[SamanthaBehgs]

In my case it was the rhythm. I play and write a lot of Prog Rock, so I'm very comfortable with odd time scales.

I think you've nailed where I'm having the most trouble. My favorite poetry form, at least for now, has been the sonnet. It's regular, it's consistent.

This form gives flexibility which is what I think gives it the beauty that it has. It's also brief - and I'm verbose. I am going to get it, I just have to get something even down on the page. Y'all will be the first to know (other than me, of course). Until then, I'm enoying reading everyone else's beauty.

 

[calmlikeabomb]

Here is the third part of the series. I cheated a little here, Little Rice was the Chinese name of one of my exes and I always thought it was incredibly evocative.

I also didn't try to rhyme too much in this one, focusing instead on the story. And I got very lucky with Mugungwha (aka Rose of Sharon, the national flower of S Korea). Just the right number of syllables and fits the theme perfectly.

----

Little Rice

Little Rice, in spring I bloom, I play in grass, I sing in woods,
Summer comes with men of steel, I’m wrapped in silk, for silver sold,
In iron cage, I forget the spring, Little Rice is Mugungwha.


----
With this, the tale of the Courtesan is done. I hope to return again to this thread soon with something more witty and less bluesy.

 

[calmlikeabomb]

I think you've nailed where I'm having the most trouble. My favorite poetry form, at least for now, has been the sonnet. It's regular, it's consistent.

This form gives flexibility which is what I think gives it the beauty that it has. It's also brief - and I'm verbose. I am going to get it, I just have to get something even down on the page. Y'all will be the first to know (other than me, of course). Until then, I'm enoying reading everyone else's beauty.

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I was so used to 4/4 that the first time I hit a 5/8 and a 9/8, I almost broke into a cold sweat!

I don't know about your process, and I don't know the 'mechanics' of sonnets yet, but when I tried to write Sijo, I tapped my thigh and spoke the words aloud in order to keep count. It wasn't perfect, but it helped me get into the mindspace where I could wrap my head around the mechanics of the form.

Reading all the literature folks shared on this thread helped as well, but it all clicked together only when I wrote down 'Let me be Autumn Flower'. That one line unlocked my voice.

Put something down, and if it helps, you will only get better from there.