A Rispetto, an Italian form of poetry, is a complete poem of two rhyme quatrains with strict meter. The meter is usually iambic tetrameter with a rhyme scheme of abab ccdd. A Heroic Rispetto is written in Iambic pentameter, usually featuring the same rhyme scheme.

Example #1:

Tribute to Tuscany

In old Tuscany, this form of poetry
To stimulate the imagination's muse,
Has been passed down through every century,
To all writers whom the written words enthuse.
 
Even yet today, some vineyard covered hill,
Hung with clustered grapes, romantic souls instill
With a deep desire to try their hand once more
And resurrect a page from history's lore!

Copyright © 2006 Betty Lou Hebert

Example #2:

Anita's Realm

Anita, lovely poetess,
sees nature's beauty all around,
feels wind of summer's soft caress,
and hears the magic in its sound.

She sits to write in quiet hours
when from her realm of thought sweet flowers
spring forth!  She plucks and sets them free
as lyric words of poetry.

Copyright © 2006 Andrea Dietrich