A couple years ago, I stumbled across a book of poems by Ryokan, a Zen Monk poet from Japan (1758-1831). He was fond of writing sedokas. Googling will tell you that “the sedōka, or “head-repeated poem,” consists of two tercets of five, seven, and seven syllables each. An uncommon form, it was sometimes used for dialogues. Chōka and sedōka were seldom written after the 8th century.”
Think again, there are a couple sedokas in my forthcoming book, and here’s an outtake for your enjoyment! Best, Doug
Innovation
On Charing Cross Road
Bookstores line up in a row
Beckoning passers by 2
Stop. Escape the rain
Take shelter in flowing words
Ideas cast from the past
Doug Hoekstra 