민화. Korea folk painting. Folk art works on Lee Joungjoo #민화
ere twas man / astronaut design
through Fuxi and Nuwa / puppets
to meld feathers / and scales; made them
be both in / yet not of this world
formed of purest yang / nine by nine
backwards are evil / six by six
mixed scales to tangle / their features:
head of camel / antlers of stag
eyes of a hare / (or a demon)
ears of bull / neck of iguana
(some say a body of a snake)
belly of a frog / (or a clam)
scales like the carp / feet of tiger
talons of eagle / feathered tail
yet we’re ahead / of our story
first are laid the eggs / of to-be
laid deep in the sea / they swim free
for a thousand years / until they
play in mountains / another k
shapeshifting / with man another
until they explode / and transform,
rainbows across the sky / as they,
complete formed / dragons ascend to
heaven / in royal benevolence
oomphalos lumps / ley of the land
swirling energy / ball of light
pearl of wisdom / universe’ qi
NOTE: I listened to a lecture today by Heinz Insu Fenkl, Director, Interstitial Studies Institute, SUNY New Paltz on dragons in Korean folklore and took notes and used that to write the above cosmology. The 4 Dragon Kings in Chinese folklore carry over into Korean folklore and become 6, where the Korean Dragon King and his fifth son are added to the group. Also noted is that you’ll not see Korean dragons depicted in full display in art as they are not totally of this world. You’ll see them occluded by water, clouds, etc.
Sanaa is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Sanaa says:
For today’s Poetics, I want you to write keeping in mind the following two options.
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Write a poem that’s loosely based on Korean folklore. You may opt to create a tale of your own in regard to a myth or legend you might have discovered. 0R
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Write a poem using the Poetic form “Kasa.” The choice of topic is entirely up to you.
Tao Talk 
Wow, Lisa. All I can say is wow. I’m going to have to re-read this again because I feel there are nuances I still haven’t fully processed and absorbed. I love when a poem makes me feel like that! I feel as if my mind has been stunned with a constant wonder in the push-pull and wordplay throughout this piece. It’s gravitating and beautiful. Amazing.
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Thank you. The lecture was riveting. As I listened, I had a “Joseph Campbell moment” as so many of the threads of the Korean folklore connect to folklore of other cultures and belief systems.
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Wow! Excellent take on the Prompt.
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Thank you, Sadje 🙂
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You’re welcome
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Wow! I love the pace and pull of this.
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Kate, thank you!
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Li, yours is a ‘Kasa’ in the truest sense! Brava!❤️
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Punam, thank you very much ❤ I'm enchanted by dragons and the more I learn about them the more I understand why.
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Indeed. My pleasure always. 😊
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Wonderfully composed as you captured many aspects of Korean folklore (and the animals contained therein).
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Thanks much, Ron. That lecture is worth a listen if you get a chance.
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OH MY GOD this is absolutely phenomenal, Lisa! 💝💝 You took my breath away with your use of language, tone and pacing here . the poem feels like it’s been taken from that era itself 😀 especially love; “rainbows across the sky / as they, complete formed / dragons ascend to heaven / in royal benevolence.” Thank you so much for writing to to the prompt! Wowww!
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Sanaa, thank you for your glowing praise. I’m sure the dragons are pleased by it 😉
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Wowzer–this one shines like a shower of golden flakes, peeling off ancient dragons and mythical creature. i agree with the accolades heaped upon this, I struggle to catch my breath. You should read this aloud on OLN Live tomorrow. This is killer, unlike anything I’ve seen of yours previously.
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Glenn, your praise makes me blush. My internet is inadequate to participate in OLN Live. Maybe I’ll record it and post it on my page so you can hear me read it?
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Personally, I think you’ve aced this prompt. I love love love it.
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Misky, thank you! Glad you connected with it.
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This could be a primer for the lore.
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Ken, that’s exactly what it is. If you get a chance listen to the 48 minute lecture. There is some stuff at the end that blew me away!
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Cool.
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A humongous WOW from me … the ‘wallpaper art’ is gorgeous … your kasa poem is perfection!
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So pleased you are pleased by it, Helen. Thank you ❤ 🙂
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Lisa,
Strikingly beautiful, a mosaic of words and imagery! Absolutely stunning this! 🤗❤️
pax,
dora
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Thank you so much, Dora. Glad to see you ❤ 🙂
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OH WOW!!! The details are precise and I can see that you listened so well in the lecture, Ms. Lisa. If my hands were gifted in drawing (anything but) i would have drawn your details to appreciate your imagery’s magnificence!
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Thanks so much. I am officially mesmerized.
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me, too!!
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I like this Lisa…it’s really different from the others.
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Thank you, Max! Basically it’s a transcription of some of the lecture notes, but I tried to put it in a poetic form.
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It works…you know I’m no expert nor do I play one on tv…but that was good different.
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I saw this prompt when I was thinking about linking for OLN–it looked very meaty and you’ve written a wonderful poem for it. I love the enumeration of dragon qualities and aspects, the detail that puts breath in their cloudy bodies of imagination and awe. “..first are laid/the eggs of to-be..” and then the final ascent beyond us to realms we imagine but can’t even describe. Just a gorgeous poem. I enjoyed it very much.
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Yes, I was most challenged by Sanaa’s prompt. Thank you for your detailed feedback, it is sincerely appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I love all the details, and how wonderful that you could do all this well-timed research for the prompt
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Thank you, Bjorn. As a retiree I have nothing but time. The lecture was fascinating.
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