Daddy lessons, or: Daddy’s hands

A Sijo

Your Daddy loves you, Baby Girl ~ 
is proud of you, amazed by you; 
Perhaps he could use Daddy lessons, 
but has intentions true; 
Always, your Daddy’s hands will be ~
here to wipe your tears away

---

Sijo?

A Korean verse form related to haiku and tanka and comprised 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. Modern sijo are sometimes printed in six lines.

---

d’Verse poetics prompt: In father’s name

At d’Verse, Punam encourages us to write father-themed poems, incorporating at least three of the song titles from this list:

1. Dance with my father: Luther Vandross
2. Song for dad: Keith Urban
3. My father’s eyes: Eric Clapton
4. Papa don’t preach: Madonna
5. Daddy lessons: Beyonce and Dixie Chicks
6. Color him father: The Winstons
7. Daddy could swear, I declare: Gladys Knight and the Pips
8. Baby father: Sade
9. My old man: Mac Demarco
10. Father to son: Queen
11. Papa, can you hear me?: Barbara Streisand
12. Daddy’s hands: Holly Dunn
13. My father’s house: Bruce Springsteen
14. Papa don’t take no mess: James Brown
15. Your daddy loves you: Gil Scot-Heron

---

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!