Xiaoshi

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Chinese Verse

Xiaoshi, (small poem,shi = poetry / xiao = little, diminutive or small) is a genre of Chinese poetry from the 1920s. It is a fragmented poem with minimal explanation. It teams seemingly unrelated images with little indication of cause and effect. The frame is at the discretion of the poet although in sync with most Chinese poetry, it is common to be written as a quatrain.

Gathering by Judi Van Gorder                                      tangy taste of barbeque sweet corn drips butter shared with friends taste of love

rust by Judi Van Gorder climbing steps to temple rusty knees complain while snow capped crown bows low in gratitude