KCCLA is thrilled to announce the first English Sijo Contest to share the unique beauty of Korean poetic heritage with all our social media audience!

Sijo is often compared to Italian Sonnet or Japanese Haiku, but Sijo's thematic range and its lyrical characteristics differentiate itself from other types of rhymed verses in the world.

How to write Sijo:

Sijo consists of three lines with approximately 45 syllables.

The first line usually goes in a 3-4-3-4 (14) syllable pattern, delivering the theme of the poem. The second line is in a 3-4-4-4 (15) pattern, which further develops the theme of the first line. The last line usually is a 3-5-4-3 (16) pattern, which involves a twist in the first half of the line, and the other half concludes the poem.

HOWEVER, the syllables don't have to be THAT rigidly grouped as long as the general structure is similar to the form suggested above.

Example:

Though I die, and die again. Though I die, one hundred deaths (3-4-3-4) 14

After my bones have turned to dust, whether my soul lives on or not (3-4-4-4) 15

My red heart, forever loyal to my Lord, will never disappear. (3-8-3-3) 17

(Dan Shim Ga, translated by Dr. Mark Peterson)

Submission: email the poem to jyp@kccla.org (Jiyoung Park, Literature)

Entry Period: June 8 - June 30

Theme: anything inspiring to get through COVID19

Eligibility: All Ages

Prizes: First Place $500 Gift Card (1 awardee)

Second Place $300 Gift Card (2 awardees)

Third Place $100 Gift Card (3 awardees)

The winners' Sijo poems will be posted on KCCLA Social Media as a virtual award ceremony.

*the number of awardees may vary depending on the number of participants.

Results will be announced on July 10 2020, via KCCLA Social Media.

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