Hello, this is Frank Hubeny. I found this form only a few weeks ago in a post, “Grateful”, by method two madness: https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/grateful/ They mentioned that Jane Dougherty told them about it. It looks like others know this form as well but it is a new one for me.
A minute poem has exactly 60 syllables which I assume match the 60 seconds in a minute. In that sense it is like the quadrille which has exactly 44 words. However, there are more constraints than the number of syllables.
The form also requires three stanzas of 20 syllables each. Each stanza has four lines. The first line has 8 syllables and the next three lines have 4 syllables each.
If that is not enough constraints, the poem is expected to have end rhymes for the three stanzas that go aabb ccdd eeff.
And, if that is not enough, the meter is expected to be iambic: a foot of two syllables, first one unaccented, second one accented.
Too many constraints may make a form that is too difficult. Not enough may make the form uninteresting. For this challenge if you want to relax the rhyme, that is fine. If you want to relax the stanza structure or meter that is fine. Try to make the poem no more nor less than 60 syllables (excluding title), but I won’t be counting. You may write this on any topic. If you need a prompt let me know in the comments below. I should be able to think up something.
I couldn’t find much history on this form, but maybe some of you know more about it or remember how you first found out about it. Let me know in the comments section below. I find the sound of reading one of these poems an enjoyable variation from common meter.
To participate write a minute (or modified minute) poem and post it on your blog. Add the link to that post in the Mister Linky below. You might also want to comment here letting me know that you have linked something or provide the rest of us with more information about the minute form. Also read what other poets have written and perhaps even provide a comment on their posts. That is how we get to know each other better.
dVerse 
The bar is open with a form that is new for me but probably not new for some of you.
Hi everyone! Thank you for a prompt to get our teeth into, frank. Form poetry can be dastardly if you’re used to doing your own thing. But I quite enjoyed getting to grips with this one!
I opened the form up a bit. All that is required is 60 syllables just in case. Looking forward to reading yours, Kim!
Nice minute poem! I wasn’t able to hear the audio for Weighing Time, but I did listen to your other track, Desk Lamp Blues. Nice reading!
Thank you, Frank!
Oh! a new and interesting form. Thanks for the prompt, Frank.
You’re welcome, Imelda! I’m looking forward to seeing how this form, which is new to me, takes shape.
I tried writing several poems and found, that because of the constraints, the resulting piece is a little different from what I intended. Yeah, the form sometimes dictate the result which can be quite surprising. It was fun (and also difficult) to write though.
My first one was difficult a few days ago. I look at forms as guides to what might sound good, but not requirements. However, trying to make the form work exactly also forces one to keep thinking about the right words revising them repeatedly. The results can be surprising as you mentioned. Thanks for linking up your minute poem, Imelda!
Good evening! This one was fun, I went full silly on it.
Nice minute poem and you showed how a sentence could cross the stanzas. I have been writing mine as three sentences. This opens up possibilities.
Hi Frank! Thanks for introducing this form to us ~ It was wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be, ha ~ Have a good Thursday !
It is easy, or maybe deceptively easy, but I’m not that familiar with the minute form. Your minute poem sounded very nice.
When I saw the form on one of your poems, it looked enticing–and it turned out to be just that. I mastered all the constraints but the last–feet & meter scramble my brian & strangle my creativity; smile. Interestingly, when I did the recording of my poem, even with measured delivery, the running time is 52 seconds. An A- for effort, I say.
It was iambic enough. Besides, it is nice to vary things a bit. I think you get an A+ for effort. Nice recording!
Thanks for hosting, Frank! Ah…another dastardly sudoku poetic form 🙂 I am always challenged by these being a free verse kind of gal. But I did enjoy this one….and went to a dark side light hearted (can it be both) response! 🙂
I’ll take an ice cold marguerita, please. VERY hot and humid again in Boston!
Ice cold margarita coming up in a minute. Nice sounding, light-hearted and dark minute poem! You showed it could be both.
I wouldn’t mind one of those myself, Frank, por favor.
Coming up in a minute!
Thanks for this challenge! It sounds like a good one.
The form is new to me, but I like the way it sounds. Usually on these challenges I am amazed at what people come up with. Looking forward to your attempt!
I just read yours. Nice minute poem!
Heading back to bed again. My nightmare scribble isn’t for the faint-hearted! Cheers, everyone.
Sounds ominous which encourages me to read it all the more. I suspect it must be very early in the morning for you.
My midnight giddiness again —
A bit insane.
Thanks for the prompt —
Interesting form.
You’re welcome, Colin! That was a nice minute poem. I hadn’t thought of pets like that before.
Well, if God put them into His little Garden of Eden and asked Adam the zookeeper to take watch, then I suppose that made them His pet, right?
That definition of pet works for me!
Nice to do a form. It’s always interesting to see how much the tone of the poem can vary across different poets. I’ve seen everything from gothic horror to comedy tonight.
I am impressed by the variety in the content and how the poems are written given a specific form to work with. Nice early morning minute poem, Sarah!
Delightful form, Frank. At first it seemed a bit daunting but once I’d diagrammed it, it was so fun. I suspect I will return to this form again, but most likely, not for today. Thank you.
I am glad you were able to write one, Victoria!
And, as you know by now, just a little more than a minute.
🙂 It usually takes a little more than a minute when one says “just a minute”.
What a great form to share, Frank! I couldn’t help but write one. I’ll be back later, probably tomorrow, to read others. Tonight I have some time to myself to work on the story mentioned in my own Minute Poem. It’s taking a bit longer than a minute to write, but did make a good subject for this prompt.
Very nice minute poem, Linda. Thanks for linking it with us! Even a minute poems take longer than a minute to write. Best wishes on your story!
Thanks for this prompt, Frank. I had to think about it a while, but enjoyed writing this. It was a new one for me, too. 🙂
Your poem’s minute form was perfect. It sounded nice and it is a good example of how this should be done. Thanks for linking it!
Thanks for the shout out Frank. Not sure if I will get to this in a timely way, but I will make an attempt…(K)
It’s no problem! I am glad you wrote that minute poem a few weeks ago. It gave me another sound-based poetic form to work with. Thank you!
Thanks for hosting, Frank. Sorry I missed this one – forms are always a favorite of mine. I keep a list of forms – about 60 of them (and growing) and record the title of the poem when I first attempt each one. I knew I had written a Minute Poem and digging back discovered it from a couple of years ago. I may have to revisit the form again soon.
No problem! There’s a lot to do. I divide forms into two classes. If the form has a meter and perhaps also rhyme, alliteration or assonance then I call it a sound-based, metrical form. If it has none of those constraints, but only counting constraints such as the quadrille or haiku, I call it a non-sound-based form. I only have a dozen or so that I use. This one, a sound-based metrical form, I found out about a few weeks ago.
Absolutely loved this one!I recently started my blog and would love for you to read as well as leave your comments on my poetry at https://stecydsouza.wordpress.com/