Qifu shi 棄婦詩 or "poems of deserted woman," which first appeared in the Book of Songs, is a sub-genre of Chinese love poetry. It centres on the experience of a woman who is deserted by her husband or lover. Although poems of the Han-Wei period (202 B.C.-A.D. 265) inherited from the Book of Songs both the narrative and lyrical elements, when dealing with the theme of deserted woman, their interest lies mainly with the expression of feelings rather than telling stories. There is no description of the woman's physical appearance, nor is there any indication of her husband's or lover's identity. The main concern of the poem is the woman's emotional reaction as a victim of love or marriage. She always remains anonymous and her voice often monotonous. Apparently, the deserted woman is portrayed as a "type," not as an individual, and her plaints of being deserted tend to be general rather than particular. This of course gives the poem certain qualities that invite different associations and even new interpretations. It is highly tempting to read the poem as a political allegory, especially if it was written by a man of letters in imitation of the anonymous yuefu poems of earlier periods. It is the possibility of allegorical expression that gives the poem of deserted woman depth and power. However, as a genre, the "poems of deserted woman" has its limitations. This article is an attempt to examine its generic development from the Han to Wei (from anonymous yuefu poems to imitations by men of letters) and its potential and limitation as a vehicle for expression.