6 readers get poetic in 'sijo' contest

in\free\dependence

step over broken bottles
sprayed stencils and traces of dog
dodge the stench of rat trash alleys
hollering stoop-sitting men
find yourself in love with the one
way street that just became yours

-ivey29

McCann's critique: "I confess I tinkered by bringing 'way street' down from the end of the line 'find yourself in love with…' as it appeared in the Globe. That gives the 3 5 4 3 syllable pattern back to the poem, and maybe adds a slight extra twist moving from 'the one' to 'way street.' Great spoken language feel to this one, in any event, very much in keeping with the sijo’s performance tradition, but in a contemporary style."

in\free\dependence step over broken bottles sprayed stencils and traces of dog dodge the stench of rat trash alleys hollering stoop-sitting men find yourself in love with the one way street that just became yours - ivey29 McCann's critique : 'I confess I tinkered by bringing 'way street' down from the end of the line 'find yourself in love with…' as it appeared in the Globe. That gives the 3 5 4 3 syllable pattern back to the poem, and maybe adds a slight extra twist moving from 'the one' to 'way street.' Great spoken language feel to this one, in any event, very much in keeping with the sijo’s performance tradition, but in a contemporary style.'
David Kamerman/Globe Staff