By Bob Shank

Life and Death (Double Etheree)

Life
fading
cascading
each breath I take
closer steps I make
into the lonely grave
my eternal haunting cave
punished, being the devil's slave
only the good die young and ascend
so therefore I shall be bad to the end

thinking of the crazy times I have had
painful reflections that leave me sad
too late to contemplate a change
learnt behavior seems so strange
past generations taught
the wisdom I sought
but did not heed
now I need
new breath
death....

Bob Shank Oct.15th, 2005
The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can
also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Get creative and write an Etheree with
more than one verse, but follow suit with an inverted syllable count.

Reversed Etheree: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Double Etheree: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1