25 Stunning Sijo Poem Examples That Will Transform Your Understanding of Korean Poetry

Hi, Friend! Jen Glantz her. I’m a bestselling author, the first ever bridesmaid for hire and have been hired by hundreds of brides all over the world. Let’s talk about sijo poem examples.

I was staring at a blank page the other day, trying to write something that felt deep but didn’t drag on for three pages. I love a good Haiku, but sometimes 17 syllables just isn’t enough room to complain about my day or express how much I love pizza.

That’s when I stumbled back onto the Korean sijo. It’s actually older than haiku, but for some reason, it doesn’t get the same PR. I tried writing one during a chaotic Monday morning, and honestly? The structure saved me. It forces you to take a mess of thoughts and actually find a conclusion. So, if you’re looking for a way to sharpen your writing—or just vent creatively—here is a look at what sijo is and some of my favorite examples.

Quick Resources:

• Write vows with clarity using the Wedding Vow Generator

• Explore planning, speeches, and support in All Wedding Tools

The “Too Long; Didn’t Read” Version

If you don’t have time for the history lesson, here is the quick and dirty breakdown. Sijo is cool because it’s not just about pretty nature imagery; it’s about making an argument and solving it.

Think of it like a three-act movie compressed into three lines:

• Line 1: Set the scene. (The Setup)

• Line 2: Complicate the scene. (The Conflict)

• Line 3: The Twist. (The Resolution)

It usually runs about 44–46 syllables total. If you like structure but feel like Haikus are a little too short to get your point across, this is for you. Here is how they stack up against the poetry forms you probably learned in high school:

Feature	Sijo (Korean)	Haiku (Japanese)	English Sonnet
Structure	3 Lines	3 Lines	14 Lines
Vibe	Intro, Build-up, Twist	A snapshot in time	A complex argument
The Secret Sauce	The Twist (3rd Line)	The Image	The Rhyme

The Blueprint of a Perfect Sijo

To really get sijo, you have to stop counting syllables for a second and look at the story arc. A bad sijo is just a long sentence broken into three parts. A good sijo creates tension.

Apply this same structure to your vows with the Wedding Vow Generator

It’s basically the poetic version of “Wait for it…”

The Three-Line Arc

The magic is strictly in the third line. The first line introduces the topic. The second line makes it more intense or detailed. The third line pulls the rug out from under the reader.

If you want something that feels a little more flowery and less punchy, you might like tanka poems, but if you like wit, stick with sijo.

Line	The Job	What it feels like
Line 1	Introduction	“Here is the situation.”
Line 2	Development	“Here is why the situation matters (or sucks).”
Line 3	The Twist	“But actually…” or “Here is the surprise ending.”

Rhythm and The Twist

In English, we aim for about 14–16 syllables per line. But don’t stress the math too much. Stress the “punchline.”

Let’s try a practice round:

Scenario: Stuck in a boring meeting.

• Boring Draft: The meeting is long. My boss keeps talking. I want to go home. (Snooze).

• Sijo Draft: The projector hums a low drone while the slides click one by one. / My coffee cup is empty now, just a brown ring on the desk. / The Twist: In my mind, I am a pirate sailing seas of paper clips.

Turn messy thoughts into a meaningful ending using the Wedding Vow Generator

25 Masterpieces for the Modern Soul

I’ve pulled together 25 examples to show you how flexible this form is. We’ve got everything from ancient Korean masters to poems about why group chats are the worst.

The Classics (Roots)

These are the OGs. They set the standard back in the Goryeo period. They are mostly about nature and getting old, but the wit is still sharp.

1. The Blue Stream (Hwang Jini)

• Do not boast of your speed, O blue stream running to the sea.

• Once you reach the vast ocean, there is no turning back again.

• The bright moon hangs above the empty hills; why not pause and rest a while?

2. The Fisherman (Yun Seon-do)

• Is it the cuckoo that cries? Is it the willow that is green?

• Several roofs of the fishing village are hidden in the mist.

• The boy is out fishing now; who will bring the fresh wine?

3. The Spring Breeze (U Tak)

• I hold a stick in one hand and a bramble branch in the other.

• I try to block old age with brambles and hit gray hair with the stick.

• But white hair noticed my plan first and came by a shortcut.

4. Jade Green Stream (Byeon Gye-ryang)

• My horse is startled and pulls back; I wonder what he sees.

• The jade green stream flows quietly beneath the shadow of the pine.

• Ah, it is the reflection of the mountain that he fears to tread upon.

5. Mountain Silence (Yi Eon-jeok)

• The green mountains say nothing; the flowing water has no form.

• The clear breeze has no price; the bright moon has no owner.

• Among these, with no sickness or worry, I will grow old.

Modern Digital Life

Let’s take that ancient structure and apply it to the things that actually stress us out today: notifications, low batteries, and AI.

(If you like poetry that cuts through the fake Instagram filters, you should check out these honest poem examples, too.)

6. The Notification

• A chime rings out in the dark, lighting up the bedside table.

• I promised myself sleep tonight, a break from the endless scroll.

• My thumb moves before I think; the blue light steals my dreams again.

7. The Glitch

• The video freezes in place, a smile caught in a jagged loop.

• I refresh the browser tab, waiting for the world to load.

• Outside, a real bird flies by; it does not buffer, it just is.

8. Low Battery

• Five percent remains on screen, a red bar warning of the end.

• I search for the charging cable, panic rising in my chest.

• The screen goes black; silence falls. Finally, I can hear myself.

9. The Group Chat

• Thirty messages ping at once; plans are changing much too fast.

• I type a witty response, then delete it, then type again.

• I send a “thumbs up” reaction; it is easier than being real.

10. AI Assistant

• I ask it the meaning of life; it quotes a database of facts.

• It builds me a schedule, counts my steps, and plays my favorite song.

• But when I cry in the kitchen, it only asks: “Repeat command?”

Love & Weddings

Weddings are high-stress environments, which makes them perfect for sijo. It’s all about the contrast between the “perfect day” and the messy reality.

Create vows that feel real, not scripted, with the Wedding Vow Generator

If you’re trying to write vows that don’t sound like a Hallmark card, check out our guide on creative wedding vow ideas.

11. The First Date

• I checked the menu online twice; I wore the shirt that makes me look slim.

• We sit across the candle flame, talking about our favorite bands.

• You laugh at my terrible joke; I decide to delete my apps.

12. Wedding Vows

• I wrote three pages of promises, swearing to move the stars for you.

• But standing here in front of crowds, the paper shakes within my hands.

• I look at you and forget the script; “I love you” is all that’s left.

13. The Argument

• The dishes pile up in the sink; the silence spreads across the room.

• We defend our heavy pride like soldiers guarding castle walls.

• You sneeze loudly; I say “Bless you.” The war is over just like that.

14. Cold Feet

• The dress hangs high upon the door, a ghost of white in the dim light.

• Everyone says I am lucky; everyone says this is the dream.

• I call a stranger on the phone; “Tell me I don’t have to go.”

15. The Anniversary

• Ten years have gone since we said yes; the photos fade a little bit.

• We argue about the thermostat and whose turn it is to walk the dog.

• Yet when you grab my hand in sleep, I know I’d choose this life again.

Workplace Dynamics

There is nothing quite like the specific pain of a Zoom meeting that could have been an email.

16. The Promotion

• I worked the weekends for a year, skipped the parties and the trips.

• The title on the door is new; the paycheck has an extra zero.

• I sit alone in the corner office; why does the view look so gray?

17. Monday Morning

• The alarm screams at 6 A.M.; the coffee burns my tired tongue.

• The inbox is a monster’s mouth, demanding to be fed right now.

• I close my eyes for ten seconds; a mini-vacation in my chair.

18. Imposter Syndrome

• They nod at everything I say; they take notes when I start to speak.

• I wear the suit, I shake the hands, I use the words that leaders use.

• Wait until they find out the truth; I am just a child in disguise.

19. The Resignation

• I typed the letter on my phone, keeping it short and polite.

• My heart beats like a heavy drum; what will I do without this place?

• I press send and walk outside; the air has never smelled so sweet.

20. Remote Work

• Business on the top half only; pajama pants remain unseen.

• The meeting drags for hours on; my camera is turned off today.

• My cat walks across the keyboard; she is the real CEO here.

Urban Mindfulness

Finding Zen in the city is hard, but when you find it, it hits different.

21. Traffic Jam Sunset

• Red lights stretch for miles ahead; the horns are blaring out of tune.

• I grip the wheel with white knuckles, late for dinner once again.

• Then the sun hits the glass tower; the city burns in liquid gold.

22. Coffee Shop Rain

• The barista shouts a stranger’s name; the grinder whirs a loud complaint.

• I try to write my masterpiece, distracted by the noise and rush.

• Rain begins to lash the window; the world blurs into gray and peace.

23. The Subway Ride

• Shoulder to shoulder, we all stand, staring at the floor or phones.

• The train screeches around the bend; we sway together as one mass.

• For a moment we are dancing; partners who will never meet.

24. Rooftop Garden

• Concrete surrounds us on all sides; the sirens wail down on the street.

• I planted seeds in plastic pots, hoping for a sign of green.

• A tomato grows, red and round; a miracle amidst the smog.

25. Sunday Reset

• The laundry spins in circles round; the week is washed away in soap.

• I write a list of goals to reach, ambitious plans for who I’ll be.

• I toss the list into the trash; today I will just be myself.

Finding Resolution in the Chaos

You might be wondering, “Jen, you are a professional bridesmaid, why are we talking about Korean poetry?”

Here is the thing: A wedding is basically a sijo poem in real life. You have the setup (the dream wedding), the development (the stress, the family drama, the budget blowing up), and then you need a resolution.

The Professional Twist

At Bridesmaid for Hire, I basically act as that third line of the poem. When the chaos hits the fan—when the vendors are late or the cold feet kick in—I’m the plot twist that fixes it. Instead of the day ending in a meltdown, we pivot to a happy ending.

Find your third-line resolution with the Wedding Vow Generator

The Chaos (Line 1 & 2)	The Sijo Resolution (Line 3)	How I Actually Help
Vows: “I have so much to say but I’m rambling.”	Distill the ocean into a cup.	Vow Writing: I take your 5-page brain dump and edit it into a 3-minute speech that makes people cry (in a good way).
Logistics: “The vendors are late and mom is crying.”	A stranger steps in; the storm breaks.	Day-of Coordination: I handle the vendors so you can handle the champagne.
Nerves: “I am shaking and want to run away.”	A steady hand holds mine tight.	Professional Bridesmaid: I’m your personal support system at the altar.

Vows That Don’t Ramble

Sijo teaches us that you don’t need a thousand words to say something meaningful. That’s exactly how I approach vow writing. We help couples cut the fluff and get straight to the heart of the matter.

Cut the fluff and keep the feeling using the Wedding Vow Generator

If you need help refining your words for the big day, take a look at our wedding speech coaching services.

The “Sijo Edit” for Vows

• Before (The Ramble): “I remember when we first met at that coffee shop, and I was wearing that blue sweater, and you spilled your tea, and I thought it was funny, and then we talked for hours about dogs…”

• After (The Sijo Impact): “I recall the steam of tea and the blue sweater that I wore. / You spilled your cup in nervousness; we laughed until the shop closed down. / In that mess, I found my home; I promise to clean up spills with you.”

Get help crafting a powerful vow twist with the Wedding Vow Generator

Emotional Support as Art

Whether you need help writing your vows or someone to manage the chaos on the big day, we are here to help. Check out our services to see how we can be the resolution to your wedding planning stress.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking for a sijo poem to put in a toast or looking for someone to hold your dress while you pee, the goal is the same: finding a little bit of grace in the mess. Writing a sijo forces you to find that ending on the page. Hiring a professional bridesmaid ensures you find that ending in real life.