The Power of One Minute

Luciana Fisher

Free Verse

December 31st.
11:59 p.m.
On this side of the world.

60 seconds for my brain to rewind—
365 days
And hold suspended the last 42 years.
Quickly measuring
To sum up the average of my existence.

As the gin travels down my throat,
Burning up the bitterness of what is gone,
Clearing the spaces for what is yet to come.

The slicing up of time,
Providing me with the tools
To let out the deepest sigh,
To release the despair held so tightly in my chest.

And breathe in the soft, crisp, brisky air,
Slowly expanding my lungs,
Refilling my soul with hope—
Found in the power of this one minute
That I will hold
For the next 12 months.

12:00 a.m.
January 1st.
Fireworks—
Let’s do this again!

About this poem

As I sat at home on New Year's Eve, alone holding a glass of gin in one hand and the weight of the past 42 years in the other, waiting for 2025 to arrive I found myself reflecting on the power of a single moment. There’s something about that last minute of the year—how it carries the heaviness of what’s been and the hope of what’s to come. This poem is my way of capturing that fragile, fleeting time when despair and possibility collide, and how, in just 60 seconds, we can make the choice to begin again. more »

Font size:

Collection

Written on January 04, 2025

Submitted by @Lbfisher on January 04, 2025

: 46 sec read
: 335 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	ABX XXXXX XXX XXXX XXXXXX BAXX
Closest metre	Iambic trimeter
Characters	695
Words	154
Stanzas	6
Stanza Lengths	3, 5, 3, 4, 6, 4

Full analysis for The Power of One Minute »

Luciana Fisher

· 1982 · Niteroi RJ

Luciana Fisher is a Brazilian-American immigrant, rising poet, and passionate writer currently pursuing a BA in Social Sciences with a concentration in Economics at New York University (NYU). After graduating with honors from BMCC and earning an associate's degree in the Arts of Economics, she reignited her passion for poetry, which helped her in overcoming challenges after a cancer diagnosis. Her writing explores themes of identity, vulnerability, personal growth, and the intricacies of communication through poetry and prose. more…

All Luciana Fisher poems | Luciana Fisher Books

29 fans

Discuss the poem The Power of One Minute with the community...

9 Comments

Notify me of new comments via email.

senator_erix
Precisely said . New years. It's like it gives birth to the past and strange arrival to a new you , don't you think?
LikeReply 123 days ago
BellaTheMilkCarton
nice
LikeReply1 month ago
gary_dean
I have always told my children New Years Day is like going from one room to the next, not much change. But I agree with you there is that one minute, were I pause for a quick assessment and a deep breath before plunging ahead with the journey. Nice write. more »
LikeReply 11 month ago
philmaund
It is fascinating how the New Year -- just a figment of time's imagination can bring the emotions out: the regrets, the heaviness, the sorrows, and allows us to clean house and fills us with renewed hope. There's something powerful in the opportunity to begin again. We could do it any time, but New Year seems to generate the impetus within us. Great write! more »
LikeReply 11 month ago
Akinpet23
Let's do it again!
I love that line.
LikeReply 21 month ago
Htrout24
Very nice and well written
LikeReply 21 month ago
yelskwah
I particularly liked the lines about "slicing up of time" and using it as a tool to release despair and breathe in new hope. The ending, with the fireworks and the exclamation "Let's do this again!" is a perfect expression of renewed energy. more »
LikeReply 22 months ago
BellaTheMilkCarton
nice
LikeReply 12 months ago
gary_dean
Mellow and thought provoking. This poem is very reflective.
LikeReply 12 months ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"The Power of One Minute" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Mar. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/208826/the-power-of-one-minute>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

The Web's Largest Resource for

Poets, Poems & Poetry

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

More poems by

Luciana Fisher

March 2025

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.

Submissions due in...

days

hours

minutes

69 entries submitted — 81 remaining

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Our awesome collection of

Promoted Poems

Browse Poetry.com

#A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Random New Poems

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

Which poetic form consists of fourteen lines, typically written in iambic pentameter and follows a specific rhyme scheme?

A Ballad

B Sonnet

C Free verse

D Haiku