Hsin Ku and Quads: 1 of 3

      Hsin Ku and Quads

        

          In May of 1993, I participated in a poetry festival at Lincoln University, then in San Francisco. At this conference, Dr. Kenneth Fan called for poems of a new form: “Hsin Ku”, or “New Classic”. Its form and rules are summarized by these two hsinku I wrote:

New classic poem form;

four words, four lines

Any topic, any image

Second, fourth near rhymes.

“Let Reason rule Rhyme,”

Decreed the sage Master,

“So our audience be

(I hope) much vaster.”

I admit that I couldn’t resist some sardonicism there. I hope much vaster!

Here are some more:

A single look reveals:

Airplane left, bird right

Climbing, crossing; silent passage

In the evening light.

Me, praise a pearl?

Or its owner, ma’am?

Or its inner grit?

I praise the clam!

O love, we wonder;

Through you, I’m wise;

How deeper we see

Than only two eyes!

Mr. Fan wanted poems in honor of an ancient Chinese king who prayed for world peace. Alas, I could not resist delivering the following snark:

“May all war cease,”

The high lord sings;

But when there’s peace

Then who needs kings?