Shortest Poems

I thought it would be interesting to find out the world’s shortest poem, but it turns out to be a matter of extensive debate! One candidate includes “Me/Whee!” or “Me/We” reputedly spoken by the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali, but this was not actually published as a poem as far as I know. Another contender was written hundreds of years ago by English poet John Donne (1572-1631), in response to the hard times his family suffered after he married his seventeen-year-old sweetheart in secret and with universal disapproval:

“John Donne,
Anne Donne,
Undone.”

There is also Ogden Nash’s “Purity/Is obscurity” and a famous Chinese poem consisting of only 3 Chinese characters, which translates as “Life/Net”. Also widely quoted is the following short verse:

“Fleas

Adam
Had ’em.”

I also came across The Shortest Poem Ever Written-Poem by Derek R. Audette which can be found and enjoyed on PoemHunter.com.