You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine.
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade.
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask?
...Yon Son-do (1587-1671)
Similar to the Japanese poetic form Haiku, Sijo is a Korean form of poetry, traditionally consisting of three lines of 14 – 16 syllables each with a total of 44 – 46 syllables per poem. Line 1 usually presents the problem or theme; Line 2 presents the turns of thought; and, Line 3 resolves the problem or concludes the theme with a twist or a surprise. Sijo began as a song form and was popular amongst the upper classes in the past, although a similar form also became popular with the commoners. Sijo poems are rarely titled and they may be narrative or thematic, serious or humorous, and evokes human emotions.
