Minute

Poetry Forms

Like just about everyone, I came to poetry writing traditionally (rhyme). I eventually ventured to other forms before settling on free verse. But my favorite poetry form is Minute. I came across the poetry form back in 2008 and instantly fell in love with it. In fact, I dedicated a whole chapter to the form in my second poetry book Versified Darkness.

The tutorial covers the Minute poetry form and includes examples of poems I’ve written.

Minute

The poetry form was created by Verna Lee Linxwiler Hinegardner in the 1960s. She was the poet laureate of Arkansas from 1991 to 2003. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas the poetry form is “capitalized and punctuated like prose and captures a slice of life”. You can read more about her on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas website.

The poetry form has a set rhyme scheme and meter. A minute poem consists of 12 lines of 60 total syllables, which makes complete sense, after all, there are 60 seconds in one minute. These syllables are spread out in three short stanzas, each consisting of four lines and 20 syllables.

Each stanza has a set syllable count and rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme is couplet rhyming — aabb ccdd eeff.

Minutes are written in iambic meter. An iamb consists of two syllables — an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (duh-DUH).

Because of the brevity of the poem and structure, the poems tend to be whimsical and humorous, but you can also create ones that are serious. The examples I’ve included, lean more toward serious but also tell a story.

These can be a bit of a challenge if you’re not used to following a set rhyme scheme or meter, but once you create one, you’ll be hooked. Plus, because of the structure, the poems end up being snappy and catch the reader's attention easily.

The poetry form may also pose a challenge for those who tend to write longer poems. Most of my poems are under 100 words, so Minutes were rather easy for me to grasp.

Another struggle ends up being the rhyme scheme. My suggestion is the keep the rhyme scheme as uncomplicated as possible–choose simple words.

Stanza 1

Line 1: 8 syllables — a
Line 2: 4 syllables — a
Line 3: 4 syllables — b
Line 4: 4 syllables — b

Stanza 2

Line 1: 8 syllables — c
Line 2: 4 syllables — c
Line 3: 4 syllables — d
Line 4: 4 syllables — d

Stanza 3

Line 1: 8 syllables — e
Line 2: 4 syllables — e
Line 3: 4 syllables — f
Line 4: 4 syllables — f

Example 1: Beautifully Dark © 2008 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved

My pillar wears a carefree mask –
in darkness bask
the crimson face,
your heart’s disgrace.

Prophetic visions shun my tears,
replacing fears –
my kiss of salt
to show your fault.

My stain’s a proud porcelain doll,
watching you fall –
beauty within,
the finest sin.

Example 2: Puppeteer © 2008 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved.

Sweet puppeteer, your strings subdue.
Dancing for you,
crawling on floor –
balance your whore.

Mimicking time, your crime begins.
Conquering sins,
baiting the flood –
fearless is blood.

Resistance begs for you to fall.
Shameless the doll,
captive is time –
blade frees the mime.

Example 3: Fate © 2023 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved.

I stand under the bridge and wait,
tempting is fate.
Bitter the one
who scorns the sun.

I ponder the excuse he’ll bring,
the lies he’ll sing.
Sweet lips that swoon
blacken the moon.

Your tale will soon come to an end,
my heart will mend.
Freedom will start
when you depart.