New verse form from a country whose poetry I have never tackled before!
The recipient has a 13th century persona from the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Through Google I found several sources for Sijo, a Josean poetic form used from the late 1300s to today. It's related to haiku, which I'm familiar with.
From the Glossary of Poetic Terms:
“A Korean verse form related to haiku and tanka and composed of three lines of 14-16 syllables each, for a total of 44-46 syllables. Each line contains a pause near the middle, similar to a caesura, though the break need not be metrical. The first half of the line contains six to nine syllables; the second half should contain no fewer than five. Originally intended as songs, sijo can treat romantic, metaphysical, or spiritual themes. Whatever the subject, the first line introduces an idea or story, the second supplies a “turn,” and the third provides closure”
I also drew heavily from a 19th century poem that I found on Wikipedia. It helped me form the pattern and sound of the poetry that I wanted.
Verse 1:
Autumn leaves of amber hughes;
Bright gold on the ground
Almost all the translated examples I found focused on the natural world and its influence. I easily adapted this to the event and group that hosts it. Rusted Woodlands arms are parti colored oak leaves and as the event takes place in November, late autumn imagery seemed to fit.
Rusted Woodlands each year War;
Hundred Years has come
In a definite change from my norm, I put the event information first, as it flowed from the previous lines.
Sultan Mohammad
Brenhines Corotica
I based this break largely on the translated inspiration poem I was using. While it was written in a more modern time, the author was adhering to the traditional form. If I get to tackle this form in the future, it definitely requires a more in depth look.
Rulers of the East Kingdom;
Finds joy in people
The conclusion sentence of the first Sijo verse also required information of the scroll. I was trying to get the sound of the language to ring true to the poetry. I didn’t want it to read like a medieval manuscript with just a shorter syllable count.
Verse 2:
Chilling winds as seasons turn;
Twisting roots deep down
The opening of the next verse mirrored the first verse with a repeat of the late autumnal reference.
Promoting, working and staff;
Food for Royal needs
This references why the recipient is getting the award. It was a challenge to convey the work they'd been written in for while still adhering to the poetry, as the nature lines took up some of my word count.
Our Bak Nabiya
Embodies Service
In the second verse I repeated the poetic interlude of 3 5 syllable lines that I used in the first verse. As before I used this part as an identifier. This time it was the recipient.
With the turn of the season;
Earns the Silver Wheel
With the final sentence I tried to combine some of the elements I had been using. “With the turning of the season” brought all the weather references together. I was especially proud of “turning” as that can reference both seasons and the Wheel for which the award is named.
With all rights acknowledged so
November 19, Anno Societatis LVII
These last two lines are just tacked onto the bottom of the scroll without adhering to the poetic structure. Sometimes that information just doesn't fit the poetry.
This was the recipient’s first award in the SCA, and they would need room for their arms. I requested that the space be left and then the final 2 lines included. "All rights acknowledged so” was important as the Silver Wheel is an Armigerous Award which includes an AoA.
This was an exciting scroll to write. I was grateful that I found a few sources right away that gave me the basics of the verse form. I look forward to writing more of this and hope more Korean Poetry opportunities come onto my plate.
WC.jpg)
