Whittled Words – Minute Poem
Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:
MINUTE POEM
Some forms have a long, exotic history. Some forms are relatively new but have a well-known founder. Others just seem to spring out of nowhere. Such appears to be the case with our most recent poetic form: the minute poem.
The rules are rather simple:
- 3 quatrains (or 4-line stanzas)
- 8 syllables in the first line of each stanza (4 iambic feet/iambic tetrameter)
- 4 syllables in the remaining lines of each stanza (2 iambic feet)
- rhyme scheme: aabb/ccdd/eeff
- written in strict iambic meter
Each stanza contains 20 syllables, times 3 stanzas, equals 60 syllables total. Since there are 60 seconds in a minute, I’m going to go out on a limb and proclaim that’s the origin of the name Minute poem.
Examples of Minute Poems:
THE WORLD
by Rita Renee Weatherbee
The world cast in bitter turmoil –
Masses recoil
Hatred astounds
Bashing surrounds.
The world spinning, lacking control,
Trenching a hole
Discriminate
Trash and berate.
The world whispers for Divine Peace
Loathing to cease
Halt repugnance
Love transcendence.
LATE SUMMER RISE
by Anthony94
Like liquid teak the river flows,
the wind that blows
has stirred the silt
as wavelets lilt
Like tiny ships; their whitened sails
dissolve, no trails
remain, just dregs
and splintered pegs
Now cast ashore like packrat’s home
Bare twigs can’t roam
From shore to float;
New anchored boats.
MOTHER NATURE
By Brad Osborne
The flowers bloom in rainbow hue
A wonderous view
Haunting fragrance
To which bees dance
And fluffy clouds pass by so slow
Cool winds do blow
Bird takes to wing
The heavens sing
What wonders doth she chosen share
Her charms so fair
The song of life
Her beauty rife
I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Minute poem. Thanks for reading!
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commonsensiblyspeaking 
Beautiful verses Brad! This section of Whittled Words is a fantastic learning experience! Thank you so much for bringing that knowledge to us. Your words, your ability to create such fantastic works of art, are enchanting and powerful. You truly are a very gifted writer with much to share and much to say. Take good care and all the best. Hope your Friday is just as sunny and fresh as is ours here in Valencia today! Have a great weekend!
Thank you, my dear friend! I learn a lot myself in finding and researching the different forms available to poetic expression, and can only hope that my readers find something new too. I can say that this series has helped at least one other writer to try their hand at poetry. Since then, their gift for verse has grown and the art they create within it has shone brightly. That is the greatest success any poet could ask for. It is not quite as sunny and beautiful here today, but I will bask in the lovely photos you share till it is! Have a great weekend full of sunshine, happiness, and filled with your creative muses.
You too Brad! Take good care!
your poem is so happy and positive, thank you )
So, it is just like you then….thanks, Beth!
Aw, thanks!
This is lovely Brad !! 🙂
Thank you , Nima! I so appreciate your support! ❤
Me too Brad !! 🙂
It amazes me how you continously write better poems than your other examples! 🤩 Mother nature is awesome! Although, I have to admit, I’m a little upset with her. Calling for snow this weekend! It’s friggin’ May!!
You haven’t stopped to consider that I may just be picking lesser examples to make myself look good. 😁 And, yes, snow in May? WTF!?! So much for getting a ride in. ❣🌹
Ah. I should have known as much. Look at you being all clever! 😉 I’m bummed for you. 😔
Yeah, it is sad I have to pick lesser poems to feel good about my own work….oh, you meant bummed I can’t ride….okay, now I get it….😂😂😁
Lol. Yes, the ride. 😂🤣 You may not see it, but your poems are up there with the works of Frost and Whitman for me. 😍
Yeah, I don’t see it, but is that really unusual for any writer? I do, however, absolutely appreciate that you see them that way and are kind enough to say so! 💕
Of course! 😘😘
Wonderful. I have done mine on my blog 😊
Thank you! I will be sure to read it! 😊
I didn’t know it is Friday until I saw this. That’s just messed up.
Beautiful examples of the form. Let’s see what I can do.
If it wasn’t for this and the ‘Tuesday Tidbits’ series, I wouldn’t know what day it is either, Matt! Keep that poetry coming, my friend!
It is funny but kind of not that I lose track of time. Anyway, I’m gonna start writing.
Here’s mine, Brad:
Sly demon; dark, grim past collides
Rising of tides
Face it? No, run!
They won, I’d shun
In the aftermath, the light grows
Chasing rainbows
Show up? No, hide!
Shadows, not eyed
Running, hiding, no escaping
Past still haunting
Cower? No more!
It’s time I score
How did I do? Because I’m not sure about iambic meter.
Iambic meter is simply that each foot (two syllables) are read as a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. As in “in the aftermath, the” and “demon”. It would be hard to pronounce “demon” with the stress on the second syllable.The first lines of first and second stanzas do not fit neatly into this meter, but do not become overly concerned about meter above all else. That is why we have “artistic license”. Conforming is not a requirement of beauty or art. What you have written is beautiful and powerful, and meeting some arbitrary meter will not change that.
Okay, thank you, Brad! I like it when my mistakes are being pointed out so I know what to improve. I guess I’m gonna have to study more about meters.
I appreciate that you can take the criticism in the positive light in which it is given. I will always be honest with my opinion of your work, as anything less would be an injustice to anyone seeking the hone their craft. That being said, don’t get to caught up in meter in first draft. Let the thoughts and ideas flow. In edit and review, the wording can often be manipulated to fit meter requirements. Remember, you are a form blending rule breaker!
So I might just own it 😄. Thanks! ‘Write everything first, edit later.’ Got it!
I like this style because of the basic rhyming and syllable patterns (you know I like patterns). Your poem does beautiful justice to this style, and you even snuck in some Shakespeare with “doth” 🙂
I knew you would appreciate the Olde English, Jim! You academics love that kind of stuff..😁 I didn’t think of the obvious pattern it holds, but I get what you are saying about it now. The iambic meter also has a very lulling pattern of syllables. Thanks for reading and commenting, my friend!
maybe it’s the lulling I like as well! 🙂
Oh, Brad I love this poem. I want to frame it. It is scented and it dances:
“The flowers bloom in rainbow hue
A wonderous view
Haunting fragrance
To which bees dance
And fluffy clouds pass by so slow
Cool winds do blow”
Such a beautiful tribute to mother nature.
xoxoxo
G.
Gabriela, you are so good to me! Thank you for your uncompromising kindness and support!
Oh, no, you are so good to me. I get to read your poems later than you read mine. You are patient and kind. You wait. You read me. I highly appreciate everything you do for me Brad.
Have a wonderful evening my dear friend.
And you, my loving muse!
Thank you 🙂