Hsin Ku and Quads

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?

 

 

There are also “quad” poems, which are ksinku with 4 letters per word, abab rhyme, and telegraphic grammar. Here are some:

 

This quad poem form;

Four word, four time

Four each word; also

Even line good rime.

 

Don’t rule over rime!

You’d feel like fool

When even this time

Says rime over rule.

 

Hill tent camp rest

Even dark sees afar

Late nite view best

Land, lake, moon, star.

 

 

Dear love, what song

What best true rime

Will show them long

This love thru time?

 

I also composed some science-fictional hsinku and quads, such as:

 

Science, myth and fantasy

Future joy and sorrow;

Dreamer, come enchant me

With life beyond tomorrow.

 

Don’t take time trip!

Push days into spin

Make just tiny slip

You’d ain’t even been.

 

This book make slip;

They don’t show rite

That move that ship

More fast than lite.

 

“This plug,” says punk

(make such huge deal)

“fill head with junk

That ain’t even real.”

 

Just what does Zugs

From afar star hurl

With eyes like bug’s

Want with Urth girl?

 

“We come in peace,”

The green man said.

“Came we for war

You’d all be dead.”

 

Said robot to man

“You low human slob!

Behold my evil plan;

I’ll take your job!”

 

Build cities in space?

It doesn’t seem fair

Pay owners of place

Food, rent – and air.

 

“What is true reality?

Computer, say the word!”

It answered with finality,

“Your question is absurd.”

 

“I seek your boss,”

The star man sings.

“That is your loss;

We have no kings.”

 

Why read science fantasy

Mostly thud and blunder?

I seek marvels, mystery,

Vision, sense of wonder.