Are there any 3-5 minute poems?

Question

I have to do a speech contest in school, so I need a 3-5 minute poem. Thank You

Answer 1

First of all, three minutes is a lot longer than you think, so be sure to get a poem long enough.

Answer 2

First of all, three minutes is a lot longer than you think, so be sure to get a poem long enough.

Look in the Norton Anthology of Poetry in library. Those have the widest selection. Or, if you have a favorite poet, look them up online and maybe their poetry is there, too.

I am assuming your teacher won't allow you to use poetic lyrics to a favorite song, so here are some good poets to look for if you don't already have some favorites:
Robert Frost (New England nature poetry)
Robert Louis Stevenson (both an adventure novelist and great poet)
Maya Angelou (the best of contemporary African-American poets)
Edgar Alan Poe (not sure I spelled Alan right) mystery writer and mystery poet
Or score extra points by looking up "United States Poet Laureate" online. I think one of them put together a list of the best American poems.

Get one that rhymes. They are easier to remember and generally more fun to listen to.

Good luck!

Answer 3

As a starter, think that a sonnet is one minute.