The actors have found in each couplet such truth and depth (even violence) that every line seems newly minted.

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The most common metrical form is the iambic fifteen-syllable verse in a rhyming couplet, although a poet may use eight-syllable, six-syllable or even nine-syllable verses.

UNESCO: Tsiattista poetic duelling

Parveen, however, composed a couplet for the emperor asking him why he should want to enjoy a meal that was already tasted, and earned her release to return home.

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But with a circulation of 10, 000, it was virtually unknown outside of the circle of people who can tell the difference between a canto and a couplet.

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In an echo of that memory, the Millennium Centre's slate is inscribed by the sculptor Ieuan Rees with a couplet from the 15th Century poet Guto'r Glyn, a couplet which makes mention of slate as a building product to be treasured.

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Internet users cheered the fleet for posting a New Year calligraphy couplet before setting sail that read: "Golden dragon soars and sweeps away Japanese devils", followed by "Silver snake dances vigorously to display might of China", Oriental Daily News and Haixia Dushi Bao report.

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Poets must be well-versed in the Greek Cypriot dialect, possess adequate knowledge of the popular poetry of Cyprus and the ability to retrieve existing, well-known Tsiattista and, above all, must be able to improvise a new couplet on a specific theme within very strict time constraints and be able to respond to his or her opponent.

UNESCO: Tsiattista poetic duelling