Only a Minute Poem

by funfelt on October 9, 2007

My daughter had this poem written in her journal from her religious education class. Use this as a discussion starter with kids for how we should choose how we spend our time wisely!

Karen

Only a Minute

I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it,
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it,
Give account if I abuse it,
Answer for it if I lose it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it!

{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

KIMLEY 10.12.07 at 2:32 pm

that poem was great!

Awnya Boam 10.14.07 at 10:40 pm

How true! What a great poem! Thanks for sharing!

Keith 01.15.08 at 5:06 pm

my pastor read that poem this weekend in church when he discussed the value of time and the fact our time is our life. I love it

irene 12.10.08 at 6:07 am

I have been searching for that poem for a long time. Very meaningful.

Is there more to the poem if I recall? If you have the rest, could you please forward it to me..
Thanks Irene

Kathleen Lindsay 01.17.09 at 6:10 pm

This is the way it is suppose to be… thought maybe you should know.

I have only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it. Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it. But it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it. Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.

funfelt 01.17.09 at 8:16 pm

Thank you! I am sure the one I posted was watered down a little for kids but it is good to see the other version. Do you know who wrote it? Thanks!
Karen

Samuel Maxwell 02.02.09 at 12:55 pm

The poem “I have only just a minute” was written by an English teacher at Saugus High School, Saugus, MA. in the 40’s.The authors name was Welcome McCullough. All of his students were required to memorize it.

Martha 02.05.09 at 11:34 am

This is a fabulous poem used in our school. However, I have never learned who wrote it. Anyone know?

Martha 02.05.09 at 11:44 am

Also, I have a slightly different version

Aundra Roberts 05.06.09 at 5:36 pm

Who is the author of this poem?

Aundra’

E. Keith 09.15.09 at 12:41 am

I’ve always been told that Benjamin E. Mays wrote the poem….It’s a Morehouse tradition to recite the poem and they always attribute the poem to Mays

Deborah Wright 10.15.09 at 11:47 am

I wish I knew who the true author of this poem was.

The last person whom I heard recite it was former Congressman Parren Mitchell of Maryland, back in the 1980’s. The dear congressman is now deceased.

marilyn reed 10.27.09 at 9:40 pm

This poem was written by Dr. Benjamin Mayes. He was president of Morehouse College and a mentor to Dr. Martin King, Jr.

Leave a Comment

You can use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>