2023 Sejong International Sijo Competition
Winners | Judges | Winning Entries
Winners
| One Division | |
|---|---|
| Winner | Sasha A. Palmer USA sijo |
| Runners-up | Henrietta Hartl Germany sijo |
| Chong McDermott USA sijo |
|
| Honorable Mention |
Jacob Edwards Australia sijo |
| AJ Layague USA sijo |
|
| Joseph (Pepe) Oulahan USA sijo |
|
| Blake Riphenburg USA sijo |
|
| Gianna Woida USA sijo |
About Winners
Sasha A. Palmer
winner
I first learned about—and felt drawn to—sijo several years ago, when I came across the website of the Sejong Cultural Society.
A writer of short-form poetry, I appreciate sijo’s rigid structure, and simple language, which force me to discipline—declutter—my writing.
Tidying up is therapeutic. Thoughts, memories, emotions may be overwhelming. Sijo helps me sort through them, and find clarity, and relief.
Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, I currently live in Maryland.
Visit me online at: www.sashaapalmer.com
Henrietta Hartl
runners-up
I am a journalist and writer living in a small coastal village on the German part of the Baltic Sea coast.
Actually, my first acquaintance with Asian poetry came with Haiku, then Pantun, and other forms. Writing English and German language poems in accordance with foreign poetic concepts, I was fascinated by the challenge of interlinking different languages, structures, and creative concepts. And when I read about Sijo a while ago I was immediately intrigued by its structure, which seems to me complex as well as simple (a contradiction, I know, but then it's poetry not maths ...).
After trying to write some Sijo I was delighted to learn about the international Sijo competition from a writer's blog listing competitions, ericaverrillo.com .
I do have a website but I'm afraid it's in German (www.hartl-online.info).
Chong McDermott
runners-up
I grew up in Korea and later moved to the US in my adult life. Often, I find myself grappling with the struggle to fully express my thoughts and emotions in English. Unexpectedly, poetry became my refuge, helping me cope with the grief and loss of loved ones. While sijo was originally meant to be sung, its rhythmic and melodic qualities were familiar to me. However, composing sijo in English presented an intriguing challenge. Despite this, I've found the lyrical nature of sijo to be both therapeutic and enjoyable. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to rediscover sijo and infuse it with a new English essence.
My introduction to the Sejong International Sijo Competition came through my exploration of online resources, provided by the Sejong Cultural Society. Currently, I am relishing the autumn of my life, fully aware that winter is an inevitability.
Jacob Edwards
honorable mention
I happened upon the Sejong International Sijo Competition while numb-surfing the ‘net, trying to phrase words of condolence for two of my dearest friends upon the passing of their cat, the incomparable Flave. Though the sijo form was unfamiliar to me, it piqued my creative interest with its tripart juxtaposition of structure, image and emotion. Before I knew it, my lines of thought had converged and I was writing ‘In Memory of Flave’—not a celebration of life (as I’d originally intended) but rather an expression of mourning. While this first-ever sijo is one of sadness enshrined, I know I will forever associate subject and form. Future sijos will ipso facto recall to mind the gentleman puss in question. Over time they will conjure happier memories.
I live in Brisbane, Australia, and my writing encompasses creative and academic non-fiction, short stories, reviews and poetry. My work has appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies in Australia, New Zealand, England, Canada and the US. When not indulging my love of 80s synthpop, I may be found online at www.jacobedwards.id.au or tweeting/blue-sky-drifting @ToastyVogon. My monograph on The Romans (that jolly old Doctor Who story) is available from Obverse Books. My current labour of love is a 50th anniversary blogged re-watch of every episode of cult comedy TV classic The Goodies.
AJ Layague
honorable mention
I’m a Filipino-American playwright and composer. All of my degrees are in music - and I did a post-doctoral fellowship in Asian Studies & Theater & Music.
I had been doing a lot of writing recently in rhyming couplets, and I went to look for more resources on poetry at Winning Writers. I came across this sijo competition and was fascinated by the form and flow of the sijo.
Thinking back to my days playing violin in a touring youth orchestra, I decided to express the sequence of sound and feelings that occur when playing in an ensemble with a sudden shift in dynamics. It can be exhilarating and sometimes jarring and funny. (Search for the video of an audience member’s reaction in the middle of Stravinsky’s “Firebird” for an example.)
I appreciate learning about sijo and look forward to writing more!
Visit me online at: www.Layague.com
Joseph (Pepe) Oulahan
honorable mention
I have enjoyed listening, reading and attempting to write poetry my entire life. From Dr. Suess to Dylan Thomas, the rhyming, wordsmithing, rhythm and deeper meanings I find in poetry have always seemed to me to be like a close friend, confidant and even occasional therapist.
I was born in Mexico City and spent much of my youth in Madrid Spain. I currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to retiring last year, I was employed as a union representative, workforce specialist and community organizer. During this time, I made a point of incorporating word-art into my work through songs, poetry and lyrical skits.
Despite my love for poetry, I approach it as a hobby and have kept my poems almost exclusively to free verse form. Upon retiring, I became a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. It is through this organization that I learned of the Sejong Cultural Society and the International Sijo Competition. I found the challenge of the Sijo poem’s structure and its history very inspirational.
I view my Sijo as an expression of the apprehension I have regarding the world I am leaving for my grandchildren and my continuing contention (as simple and yet unrealistic as it may be) that we as a people could learn to live in peace. I am thankful to both the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and the Sejong Cultural Society for their roles in allowing me to achieve this Honorable Mention recognition. It has been a very educational and fulfilling experience.
Blake Riphenburg
honorable mention
I am a senior in high school at Arrowhead High School. I will be heading to the University of Mississippi next year to study Business and Real Estate.
I learned about this competition from my creative writing teacher Mrs.Jorgenson who pushed me to submit my Sijo poem.
Gianna Woida
honorable mention
My name is Gia Woida, I am a Junior at Arrowhead High School. In school I enjoy getting involved with various club activities with my friends. I am also committed to my club and high school volleyball teams. In my free time I involve myself with volunteer work at a local hospital.
I wrote my sijo poem back in summer and was immediately intrigued by the writing style. The style is simple but elegant. I have written several poems before but not one quite like this. Poems have always been a fascinating play of words that narrate a story. There is so much creativity that goes into them. I love the fact that poems aren't so straightforward and you can write about anything that matters to you.
Writing has always been an outlet in my life to decipher thoughts and feelings. I have written so many different stories and poems about my life and now am honored to be recognized for my work! I can't wait to keep writing and I hope my poem inspires others to be brave and write about what matters to them.