Delving into the world of literary brevity, minimalist poetry emerges as a profound form of expression. In this exploration, we discuss the characteristics of minimalist poetry, share examples from some of our favorite poets, and give you a few tips to get started.
What is Minimalist Poetry?
Minimalist poetry is defined by its reduction of words, emphasis on simplicity, and focus on essential themes or emotions, stands as a testament to the beauty found in the concise.
Some more well known styles of poetry may also be considered minimalist, such as the haiku.
Characteristics of Minimalist Poems
Scrutinizing the distinguishing features of minimalist poems, we uncover a few key characteristics, including:
- Conciseness
- Playfulness of form such as the strategic use of white spaces
- Impact of everyday language
Examples of Minimalist Poetry
For some examples of minimalist poetry, we’ve taken to Instagram. Here are some of our favorite Instagram poets who excel at minimalism.
Learn More: How to Grow Your Poetry Account on Instagram
Jared Meland of @melandwords
Read our interview with Jared Meland, poet and founder of Poetry Rise.
Em of @EM.POETIC
@the.nightshade.poet
April Hill Writing of @aprilhillwriting
Writing Tips for Minimalist Poetry
The truth is, minimalist poetry can be about anything. This gives you the opportunity to thoughtfully explore any topic in a brief and profound way.
1.) Write about your passions
Let’s say you wake up one day and feel inspired by the sun. Use the word, “sun” or aspects of light, in a short poem. This exercise can be applied to any topic.
2.) Play with spacing
If you’re writing a minimalist poem about outer space, think about how you might play with line or word spacing. For example,
The planets a l i g n e d
so you and i could
be destined.
R. R. Noall (From Whispers to Roars’ editor)
The spacing out of the word “aligned” makes readers pause, creating tension in a poem only ten words long. Pretty cool, right?
Conclusion
In conclusion, we recap the journey, reaffirming the enduring significance and versatile nature of minimalist poetry as a powerful and impactful form of literary expression.
Have you written a minimalist poem you’re proud of? Submit it here.