American Sijo
@americansijo.bsky.social
I write English language poetry in a style inspired by traditional Korean sijo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sijo). Currently reposting my Twitter backlog until this account catches up.
The fallen rain, rejoins the earth; as does the body, when life’s storm is done.
The pink sky, shines without sun; as does the spirit, once our twilight’s come.
Yet this day, has gone and will return not; I too shall become, a yesterday.
#sijo
The pink sky, shines without sun; as does the spirit, once our twilight’s come.
Yet this day, has gone and will return not; I too shall become, a yesterday.
#sijo
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The fallen rain, rejoins the earth; as does the body, when life’s storm is done.
The pink sky, shines without sun; as does the spirit, once our twilight’s come.
Yet this day, has gone and will return not; I too shall become, a yesterday.
#sijo
The pink sky, shines without sun; as does the spirit, once our twilight’s come.
Yet this day, has gone and will return not; I too shall become, a yesterday.
#sijo
Stars rending, to supernova; that all the worlds, might have their birth.
Crumpled salmon, drifting in streams; self-broken in spawn, to sustain their race.
The martyr, dead upon a cross; love’s sacrifice, as old as time.
#sijo
Crumpled salmon, drifting in streams; self-broken in spawn, to sustain their race.
The martyr, dead upon a cross; love’s sacrifice, as old as time.
#sijo
December 15, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Stars rending, to supernova; that all the worlds, might have their birth.
Crumpled salmon, drifting in streams; self-broken in spawn, to sustain their race.
The martyr, dead upon a cross; love’s sacrifice, as old as time.
#sijo
Crumpled salmon, drifting in streams; self-broken in spawn, to sustain their race.
The martyr, dead upon a cross; love’s sacrifice, as old as time.
#sijo
The flowers bloom, accusatorially; their quiet beauty, my sunlit reproach.
From dirt and air, and winter’s rays; how much is made, by paltry seeds.
All the times, I’ve asked if I’m enough; I should have wondered, how to grow.
#sijo
From dirt and air, and winter’s rays; how much is made, by paltry seeds.
All the times, I’ve asked if I’m enough; I should have wondered, how to grow.
#sijo
December 12, 2025 at 8:52 AM
The flowers bloom, accusatorially; their quiet beauty, my sunlit reproach.
From dirt and air, and winter’s rays; how much is made, by paltry seeds.
All the times, I’ve asked if I’m enough; I should have wondered, how to grow.
#sijo
From dirt and air, and winter’s rays; how much is made, by paltry seeds.
All the times, I’ve asked if I’m enough; I should have wondered, how to grow.
#sijo
I find my thoughts, too short tonight; staccato grapes, that refuse to vine.
A rebel, commandeers my phrases; waging piracy, against the semantic.
All too well, I sense pain coverted; this wordless hides, the weight of shock.
#sijo
A rebel, commandeers my phrases; waging piracy, against the semantic.
All too well, I sense pain coverted; this wordless hides, the weight of shock.
#sijo
December 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I find my thoughts, too short tonight; staccato grapes, that refuse to vine.
A rebel, commandeers my phrases; waging piracy, against the semantic.
All too well, I sense pain coverted; this wordless hides, the weight of shock.
#sijo
A rebel, commandeers my phrases; waging piracy, against the semantic.
All too well, I sense pain coverted; this wordless hides, the weight of shock.
#sijo
My first wish, is that you love; so that your struggles, will never be in vain.
My next wish, is that you doubt; so you may know, the light from the dark.
My last wish, is that you start now; so the night finds you, ready for sleep.
#sijo
My next wish, is that you doubt; so you may know, the light from the dark.
My last wish, is that you start now; so the night finds you, ready for sleep.
#sijo
December 8, 2025 at 10:08 AM
My first wish, is that you love; so that your struggles, will never be in vain.
My next wish, is that you doubt; so you may know, the light from the dark.
My last wish, is that you start now; so the night finds you, ready for sleep.
#sijo
My next wish, is that you doubt; so you may know, the light from the dark.
My last wish, is that you start now; so the night finds you, ready for sleep.
#sijo
Many think, on eternal questions; fewer contemplate, the eternal answers.
The problem, is to find the problem; all great proofs, are trivial.
From the start, we have known the key; we have been searching, for the lock.
#sijo
The problem, is to find the problem; all great proofs, are trivial.
From the start, we have known the key; we have been searching, for the lock.
#sijo
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Many think, on eternal questions; fewer contemplate, the eternal answers.
The problem, is to find the problem; all great proofs, are trivial.
From the start, we have known the key; we have been searching, for the lock.
#sijo
The problem, is to find the problem; all great proofs, are trivial.
From the start, we have known the key; we have been searching, for the lock.
#sijo
Old lyrics, dance through my brain; and my words caw, lilting echoes.
Fair phrases, of other lips; cuckoo themselves, behind my tongue.
I parrot, “fossil poetry”; my throat marching, to ancient drums.
#sijo
Fair phrases, of other lips; cuckoo themselves, behind my tongue.
I parrot, “fossil poetry”; my throat marching, to ancient drums.
#sijo
December 3, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Old lyrics, dance through my brain; and my words caw, lilting echoes.
Fair phrases, of other lips; cuckoo themselves, behind my tongue.
I parrot, “fossil poetry”; my throat marching, to ancient drums.
#sijo
Fair phrases, of other lips; cuckoo themselves, behind my tongue.
I parrot, “fossil poetry”; my throat marching, to ancient drums.
#sijo
I ponder, that cruel distinction; between the right, and the necessary.
Our good will, can destroy us; our survival, can damn us obscene.
A clear path, is a bystander’s luxury; those who would act, must wander on.
#sijo
Our good will, can destroy us; our survival, can damn us obscene.
A clear path, is a bystander’s luxury; those who would act, must wander on.
#sijo
December 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I ponder, that cruel distinction; between the right, and the necessary.
Our good will, can destroy us; our survival, can damn us obscene.
A clear path, is a bystander’s luxury; those who would act, must wander on.
#sijo
Our good will, can destroy us; our survival, can damn us obscene.
A clear path, is a bystander’s luxury; those who would act, must wander on.
#sijo
Behind the rains, the sun’s still shining; and no cloud, can halt the dawn.
Beneath the earth, roots are growing; and a spring, must follow snow.
In your heart, there’s blood still flowing; and so hope will, carry on.
#sijo
Beneath the earth, roots are growing; and a spring, must follow snow.
In your heart, there’s blood still flowing; and so hope will, carry on.
#sijo
November 28, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Behind the rains, the sun’s still shining; and no cloud, can halt the dawn.
Beneath the earth, roots are growing; and a spring, must follow snow.
In your heart, there’s blood still flowing; and so hope will, carry on.
#sijo
Beneath the earth, roots are growing; and a spring, must follow snow.
In your heart, there’s blood still flowing; and so hope will, carry on.
#sijo
Election day, a kind of dread; as the long debate, erupts to decision.
Yes the polls, look favorable; but the margins, wail banshees in my ears.
All these years, I have hoped for today; waiting now the count, my breath trembles.
#sijo
Yes the polls, look favorable; but the margins, wail banshees in my ears.
All these years, I have hoped for today; waiting now the count, my breath trembles.
#sijo
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Election day, a kind of dread; as the long debate, erupts to decision.
Yes the polls, look favorable; but the margins, wail banshees in my ears.
All these years, I have hoped for today; waiting now the count, my breath trembles.
#sijo
Yes the polls, look favorable; but the margins, wail banshees in my ears.
All these years, I have hoped for today; waiting now the count, my breath trembles.
#sijo
Evening comes, in overcast white; as air’s warm armor, is pierced with chill.
Spring’s progress, retreats by night; warning of chill noons, in days to come.
My leaving, inches unspokenly closer; will the flowers bloom, before then?
#sijo
Spring’s progress, retreats by night; warning of chill noons, in days to come.
My leaving, inches unspokenly closer; will the flowers bloom, before then?
#sijo
November 24, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Evening comes, in overcast white; as air’s warm armor, is pierced with chill.
Spring’s progress, retreats by night; warning of chill noons, in days to come.
My leaving, inches unspokenly closer; will the flowers bloom, before then?
#sijo
Spring’s progress, retreats by night; warning of chill noons, in days to come.
My leaving, inches unspokenly closer; will the flowers bloom, before then?
#sijo
I have crossed, all the names off a list; of those whose love, was less than mine.
I erase, in the dark of each dawn; the ledgers of warmth, spent into loss.
Yet the morn, finds the heart not so easily cleaned; and past cares remain, part of me.
#sijo
I erase, in the dark of each dawn; the ledgers of warmth, spent into loss.
Yet the morn, finds the heart not so easily cleaned; and past cares remain, part of me.
#sijo
November 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I have crossed, all the names off a list; of those whose love, was less than mine.
I erase, in the dark of each dawn; the ledgers of warmth, spent into loss.
Yet the morn, finds the heart not so easily cleaned; and past cares remain, part of me.
#sijo
I erase, in the dark of each dawn; the ledgers of warmth, spent into loss.
Yet the morn, finds the heart not so easily cleaned; and past cares remain, part of me.
#sijo
The cold air, huddles me heatward; for I know chill, and long for warmth.
So tragedy, cries out for healing; for we know pain, and long for justice.
Yet our hearts, have frozen to numb; the righteous man, must learn to thaw.
#sijo
So tragedy, cries out for healing; for we know pain, and long for justice.
Yet our hearts, have frozen to numb; the righteous man, must learn to thaw.
#sijo
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The cold air, huddles me heatward; for I know chill, and long for warmth.
So tragedy, cries out for healing; for we know pain, and long for justice.
Yet our hearts, have frozen to numb; the righteous man, must learn to thaw.
#sijo
So tragedy, cries out for healing; for we know pain, and long for justice.
Yet our hearts, have frozen to numb; the righteous man, must learn to thaw.
#sijo
While she walks, as a gentle dog; her shadow saunters, a fearsome wolf.
Panting mouth, and fluffy fur; twin to gaping jaws, and armored hackles.
I see now, the beast she could choose to be; and give honest thanks, for her love.
#sijo
Panting mouth, and fluffy fur; twin to gaping jaws, and armored hackles.
I see now, the beast she could choose to be; and give honest thanks, for her love.
#sijo
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
While she walks, as a gentle dog; her shadow saunters, a fearsome wolf.
Panting mouth, and fluffy fur; twin to gaping jaws, and armored hackles.
I see now, the beast she could choose to be; and give honest thanks, for her love.
#sijo
Panting mouth, and fluffy fur; twin to gaping jaws, and armored hackles.
I see now, the beast she could choose to be; and give honest thanks, for her love.
#sijo
We are masks, for the faceless; we are markers, for the unknown.
I build me, as eyes open; I absorb me, as curtains close.
As a word, proclaims a meaning; so the conscious, proclaims the soul.
#sijo
I build me, as eyes open; I absorb me, as curtains close.
As a word, proclaims a meaning; so the conscious, proclaims the soul.
#sijo
November 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
We are masks, for the faceless; we are markers, for the unknown.
I build me, as eyes open; I absorb me, as curtains close.
As a word, proclaims a meaning; so the conscious, proclaims the soul.
#sijo
I build me, as eyes open; I absorb me, as curtains close.
As a word, proclaims a meaning; so the conscious, proclaims the soul.
#sijo
Evening drips, to so-called morning; night’s alias, before the sunrise.
My anger, is at nothing; so I rail at God, because he won’t get mad.
Ugliness, erupts in me like a vine; and I hide my face, from the night sky.
#sijo
My anger, is at nothing; so I rail at God, because he won’t get mad.
Ugliness, erupts in me like a vine; and I hide my face, from the night sky.
#sijo
November 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Evening drips, to so-called morning; night’s alias, before the sunrise.
My anger, is at nothing; so I rail at God, because he won’t get mad.
Ugliness, erupts in me like a vine; and I hide my face, from the night sky.
#sijo
My anger, is at nothing; so I rail at God, because he won’t get mad.
Ugliness, erupts in me like a vine; and I hide my face, from the night sky.
#sijo
Old habits, recapture the corners; ambushing instants, retreating at thought.
Discipline, flickers to indolence; shrugging off failings, in wordy remonstrance.
“Hypocrite”, I self-charge with sanctimony; knowing that too, for an excuse.
#sijo
Discipline, flickers to indolence; shrugging off failings, in wordy remonstrance.
“Hypocrite”, I self-charge with sanctimony; knowing that too, for an excuse.
#sijo
November 10, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Old habits, recapture the corners; ambushing instants, retreating at thought.
Discipline, flickers to indolence; shrugging off failings, in wordy remonstrance.
“Hypocrite”, I self-charge with sanctimony; knowing that too, for an excuse.
#sijo
Discipline, flickers to indolence; shrugging off failings, in wordy remonstrance.
“Hypocrite”, I self-charge with sanctimony; knowing that too, for an excuse.
#sijo
The true war, is not between nations; though their conflicts, oft serve as battlefronts.
In every heart, empires grapple; in campaigns older, than long-vanished Sumer.
Our lone foe, dwells in the darkness of the soul; all worldly tyrants, but bear its flag.
#sijo
In every heart, empires grapple; in campaigns older, than long-vanished Sumer.
Our lone foe, dwells in the darkness of the soul; all worldly tyrants, but bear its flag.
#sijo
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The true war, is not between nations; though their conflicts, oft serve as battlefronts.
In every heart, empires grapple; in campaigns older, than long-vanished Sumer.
Our lone foe, dwells in the darkness of the soul; all worldly tyrants, but bear its flag.
#sijo
In every heart, empires grapple; in campaigns older, than long-vanished Sumer.
Our lone foe, dwells in the darkness of the soul; all worldly tyrants, but bear its flag.
#sijo
Dying holds, little romance; though many proclaim, they’d die for love.
A noble death, rarely takes long; the full devotion, is to live with duty.
Life is not, confined to its endpoints; the true heart guides, the path between.
#sijo
A noble death, rarely takes long; the full devotion, is to live with duty.
Life is not, confined to its endpoints; the true heart guides, the path between.
#sijo
November 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Dying holds, little romance; though many proclaim, they’d die for love.
A noble death, rarely takes long; the full devotion, is to live with duty.
Life is not, confined to its endpoints; the true heart guides, the path between.
#sijo
A noble death, rarely takes long; the full devotion, is to live with duty.
Life is not, confined to its endpoints; the true heart guides, the path between.
#sijo
The battle, out there somewhere; day-late rumors, of lines and charges.
Silence, is our main news; we will all know, when the siege begins.
We feel you, through the absence of them; our dim guardians, in the fog.
#sijo
Silence, is our main news; we will all know, when the siege begins.
We feel you, through the absence of them; our dim guardians, in the fog.
#sijo
November 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The battle, out there somewhere; day-late rumors, of lines and charges.
Silence, is our main news; we will all know, when the siege begins.
We feel you, through the absence of them; our dim guardians, in the fog.
#sijo
Silence, is our main news; we will all know, when the siege begins.
We feel you, through the absence of them; our dim guardians, in the fog.
#sijo
I sat, in your chair today; trying to enjoy, the warming sun.
I knew, you’d have told me to; yet still I felt, a mournful twinge.
Foolishly, I blame the winter; for being cold, while you were here.
#sijo
I knew, you’d have told me to; yet still I felt, a mournful twinge.
Foolishly, I blame the winter; for being cold, while you were here.
#sijo
October 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I sat, in your chair today; trying to enjoy, the warming sun.
I knew, you’d have told me to; yet still I felt, a mournful twinge.
Foolishly, I blame the winter; for being cold, while you were here.
#sijo
I knew, you’d have told me to; yet still I felt, a mournful twinge.
Foolishly, I blame the winter; for being cold, while you were here.
#sijo
Rainy pond, bubbles with spring’s first frogs; chittering business, to the soggy air.
The clouds flow, in a silver stream; as winter unfurls, its travelling sails.
My approach, hushes the bog to stillness; and the wind calls me, to move on.
#sijo
The clouds flow, in a silver stream; as winter unfurls, its travelling sails.
My approach, hushes the bog to stillness; and the wind calls me, to move on.
#sijo
October 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Rainy pond, bubbles with spring’s first frogs; chittering business, to the soggy air.
The clouds flow, in a silver stream; as winter unfurls, its travelling sails.
My approach, hushes the bog to stillness; and the wind calls me, to move on.
#sijo
The clouds flow, in a silver stream; as winter unfurls, its travelling sails.
My approach, hushes the bog to stillness; and the wind calls me, to move on.
#sijo
My feet today, feel miles away; unlike the war, which feels next door.
I marvel, as I flex my toes; while waiting to hear, if the shooting’s started.
Nations march, and I remain here; staring impotent, at my still feet.
#sijo
I marvel, as I flex my toes; while waiting to hear, if the shooting’s started.
Nations march, and I remain here; staring impotent, at my still feet.
#sijo
October 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
My feet today, feel miles away; unlike the war, which feels next door.
I marvel, as I flex my toes; while waiting to hear, if the shooting’s started.
Nations march, and I remain here; staring impotent, at my still feet.
#sijo
I marvel, as I flex my toes; while waiting to hear, if the shooting’s started.
Nations march, and I remain here; staring impotent, at my still feet.
#sijo
Without you, the spirit lessens; a wall in my thoughts, dams insights to mire.
Fireflies, flit lossfully; in that sacred place, I can no longer go.
Lonely eyes, watch through the fence in my mind; as I scheme dearly, to restore you.
#sijo
Fireflies, flit lossfully; in that sacred place, I can no longer go.
Lonely eyes, watch through the fence in my mind; as I scheme dearly, to restore you.
#sijo
October 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Without you, the spirit lessens; a wall in my thoughts, dams insights to mire.
Fireflies, flit lossfully; in that sacred place, I can no longer go.
Lonely eyes, watch through the fence in my mind; as I scheme dearly, to restore you.
#sijo
Fireflies, flit lossfully; in that sacred place, I can no longer go.
Lonely eyes, watch through the fence in my mind; as I scheme dearly, to restore you.
#sijo
High and low, are spanned as one; by the ranking bridge, of gradation.
All extremes, but chosen points; each embodying, a piece of the measure.
Unity, in the division of dimensions; the valley sings, the summit’s song.
#sijo
All extremes, but chosen points; each embodying, a piece of the measure.
Unity, in the division of dimensions; the valley sings, the summit’s song.
#sijo
October 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM
High and low, are spanned as one; by the ranking bridge, of gradation.
All extremes, but chosen points; each embodying, a piece of the measure.
Unity, in the division of dimensions; the valley sings, the summit’s song.
#sijo
All extremes, but chosen points; each embodying, a piece of the measure.
Unity, in the division of dimensions; the valley sings, the summit’s song.
#sijo