A Creative Way To Share Your Prose

In the last article on poetic form, we looked at the Quatrain.

This week, we’ll look at a flexible form, the Minute poem. It gives poets a lot of control over the emotions or narratives they want to share through poetry. To showcase the works created from these series, our writing member community will have the opportunity of being featured on our main Written Tales site and this newsletter.

To submit your work from last week’s Quatrain challenge or this article, I’ve created a member community form to submit your entries.

The Minute Poem

Through the Minute poem, poets can express their feelings and ideas in a brief and compact way. It contains 12 lines divided into three stanzas of 4 lines each. Each line has a set syllable count and rhyming pattern. This form originated from an interesting challenge by the American poet Verna Lee Hinegardner in 1968. The goal, pen a poem within a minute if you dare. But luckily, the 60 seconds wasn’t encased in stone; only the pattern was. Despite its brevity, this wonderful little jewel offers poets a unique creative outlet.

The Structure

With only three stanzas, the poet must concentrate on word selection, rhythm, and syllable count. The first line of each stanza consists of 8 syllables, with each additional line consisting of 4.

• 8-4-4-4
• 8-4-4-4
• 8-4-4-4

With the rhyming scheme of aabb ccdd eeff.

This provides the poet with a perfect challenge to test their mastery of the written word—a concise format filled with imagery. Yes, rules, I know, but you can do it.

Here’s my attempt. I’ll go first.

When Sickness Comes

When sickness comes the soul relies (a/8)
Not on goodbyes, (a/4)
But love and hope (b/4)
Not twisted rope. (b/4)

For in their dreams they reign supreme (c/8)
In this life’s scheme. (c/4)
It’s when they pray (d/4)
They see the way. (d/4)

Into the light, their soul floats by, (e/8)
No tear to cry. (e/4)
Their faith shines bright (f/4)
Into the night. (f/4)

Minute Poem by Kev

The Challenge

Are you up for a Minute Poem Challenge?

If yes, I challenge you. Write a poem using this form and submit your creation. If you accept, use the phrase “Minute Poem” for the name of the series in the form.

If you’re a paid subscriber and don’t have access to the submission page, please shoot me an email or use the contact form, and I’ll get it sorted out. Thank you.

Leave a comment, as I enjoy hearing from each of you.

Happy Writing!

Kevin