Le Voyage Magnifique

My Capistrano Sabbatical

Swallows chatter, build their nests,
church bells chime, around the square,
while I sip cappuccino
in San Juan Capistrano

Notes on the Korean Kasa form of poetry ▼

Here is an Eastern form tailored for those of you who have trouble counting syllables or placing caesura. The frame of the Kasa is loosely adhered to but parallels are paramount.

Wiggle room in Kasa frame,
holding fast, side by side claim.
~~Tinker


Kasa in Korean means song-words and the form is compared to the Chinese rhyme-prose (fu). Its defining features are the lack of stanza breaks, lines of variable length and its strict adherence to parallelism. In other words, the elements of the frame though often exercised are loosely observed. The content in parallel is the focus of the form. The Kasa dates back to 15th century Korea.

in.seaung.un yu.han.han.dae
si.ram.do ku.ji.op.ta

Life has an end:
Sorrow is endless.

The elements of the Kasa, (song-words) are:
1. syllabic, 7-syllable lines broken by caesura into alternating groups of 3 and 4 syllables or 8 syllable lines broken by caesura into equal 4 syllable phrases. These options are guides with variables at the discretion of the poet.
2. strophic. Groups of variable numbers of lines, unlike uniform stanzas.
3. content is described or exposed through parallels. This is the heart of the form.
4. written from unrequited love, patriotism, daily life, nostalgia, etc.
#1
Chants of peace, love on demand,
screamed in anger, defeat dream.
---Judi Van Gorder
#2
Heady rush, vibrant new love,
yesterday's promises pale,
vows broken, children pay price.
--Judi Van Gorder