Poem About Poetry - Chinese Poets Versus Western Poets Poem by john tiong chunghoo

the chinese poet, his characters (calligraphy) help
set out images the western poets
look for words to show

the chinese poet, his characters help him
spread out his feelings and thoughts
the way a painting does

some meanings are trapped in his
pictographs that twirl and swirl over the page,
while some are reenforced
they show the schooled from the mediocre

the western poet, every cadence of the word
he has learnt since childhood determines his 'pedigree'