The Quatrain of Seven Steps seven strides such that Cao Pi is convinced of his innocence. Cao Zhi does so, and Cao Pi becomes so flustered with emotion that he spares his brother, although he later exacts punishment upon Cao Zhi in the form of demotion. The poem itself is written in the traditional "five-character quatrain" style and is an extended metaphor that describes the relationship of two brothers and the ill-conceived notion of one harming the other over petty squabbling. There exists two versions of the poem, one being six lines in length and the other four. The former is generally thought to be
Sapphic stanza in Polish poetry życia i zdrowia J. K. Mości" ("Annual song for the day of rescuing life and health of His Majesty, the King"). He also employed it in the poem "Piesek" ("A little dog"). Franciszek Karpiński made use of the analysed form in "Psalm 8. O wielkości Boga" ("Psalm 8. On God's grandeur"). He repeated it in the "Psalmu 64 część. O opatrzności" ("Part of Psalm 64. On Providence") and in the poem "Pieśń do świętych Polaków, patronów Polski" ("Hymn to the holy Poles, patrons of Poland"). Another poet, Franciszek Dionizy Kniaźnin used Sappho's stanza very frequently. Another example of Sapphic stanza