The Hollywood Sijo is a poetry form invented by Sam Kilkenny. It is based on the traditional sijo. Sijo is a traditional Korean form of poetry that dates back centuries and is still popular today. It is composed of three lines of 14-16 syllables each. and often has a theme of nature, love, or humor. Korean sijo is a three act poem. The first line develops or establishes a theme, the second line expands on that theme, and the third line reveals a twist or resolution. The Hollywood Sijo is incredibly similar in concept.
Rules of Sijo
- It is a poem of 5 lines
- Each line has 14-16 syllables
- The poem follows a three act structure
- The first line or two introduce a situation or problem
- The middle lines involve a confrontation with the situation
- The final line or lines resolve these tensions
In a traditional three-line Sijo, the first line introduces an idea or story, the second supplies a “turn,” and the third provides closure. This version gives you a couple more lines to expand on the plot. Narrative poems are fun, especially ones that end with a twist, or closure. Use this expanded form to flesh out your stories and poems!
Examples of Hollywood Sijo –
In the age of dinosaurs, one man stands alone among them
Fields of verdure vegetation, and fire-red sunlight
The time traveler aims the chrome to the heavens, praying
The Meteor Kaleidoscope, from the year 2095
Dinosaurs eat unaware. In the sky, a comet waves goodbye
— Corey Bryan
