Shi (also spelled shih) is a broad Chinese term for poetry, especially verse written in the classical tradition. It can refer to poetry in general, but in literary studies it often points to the long-established line-based forms that use regular rhythms, tonal patterns, and rhyme, including older styles and regulated verse.
Because the word is used so widely, its exact meaning depends on context: sometimes it means "poem" in the most general sense, and sometimes it names a major body of Chinese poetic forms and techniques.
Example
Moonlight on the river wall
his oar cuts one silver line
and the night folds shut behind him