Help!

I need to have a 3-4 minute poem to read for speech, and I can't find any! I don't know many poems, and the ones I do like are nearly epic (example- "Renascence" by Edna St. Vincent Millay- which reads about to almost 10 minutes). I can't find a decent poem that reads out to the right time. Can anybody help me?

Note to mods- I know there's a more appropriate place for this thread, but for the sake of a quick answer, is it possible to just leave it here for a bit? Then, it can be moved wherever it's most appropriate or deleted. Thanks

JoNightshade said:

Uh, any particular subject?

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Nope, just so long as it's 3-4 minutes and not completely boring. I've found plenty of 3-4 minute poems, but absolutely nothing that captures interest. I wish I was more adept when it comes to poetry knowledge

mscelina said:

Take a look at Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge--it should be pretty close.

http://www.online-literature.com/coleridge/640/

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Thank you! It's very close- I timed it at 2 minutes and 23 seconds. If I read it a little slower, or maybe do a quick analysis before I started reading, it will definitely time out perfectly. This may just be the one I'm looking for, but I'm still open to suggestions if anyone wants to offer them up.

Ol' Fashioned Girl said:

The Owl Critic?

Something by Robert Service such as 'Shooting of Dan McGrew' or 'Cremation of Sam McGee'?

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I like The Owl Critic- there's a lot of room for vocal expressiveness, and that along may be enough to land me a good grade on this. It's definitely going on my list Thanks!

JoNightshade said:

This is a bit too long but you could pick a couple of "parts:"
http://etext.virginia.edu/stc/Coleridge/poems/Rime_Ancient_Mariner.html

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It is a bit long, but it should definitely be easy to dissect certain parts and piece them together without ruining the flow or the meaning of it. ANother one to put on my list Thank you!

JoNightshade said:

Oh oh oh! I have one.

http://www.bartleby.com/198/1.html

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It's just a little bit over 4 minutes, but that's certainly all right. ANother for the list (you guys are so great- I love you all!)