The shortest poem ever written br was a poem that just said: br “A” br br At roughly the same time, br another poet br was writing another poem br which just said: br br “B” br br A debate then formed br as to which br exactly br was the shortest poem br ever written. br br The general consensus br was that they both were br the shortest poems br ever written, br as both poems contained br the same amount of words br and the same amount of br letters. br So, br in essence, br it was a tie. br br However, the poet who wrote br the ‘b’ poem br argued that br technically, br his poem was shorter. br br His argument was that br since both poems br contained the same amount br of words, br the same amount br of letters, br then that factor br must be thrown out br as a measuring device. br br Instead, br he argued, br that when written br in the same typeface, br and the same point size, br the letter ‘B’ takes up br less horizontal space br than does the letter ‘A’ br in the majority of br typefaces. br br Experts were called in br to assess the matter, br panels were formed, br commissions were br initiated, br independent br investigations were br carried out, br un-biased br third-party br arbitrators br were summoned br to hear the case. br br All findings were br inconclusive br and nobody could br agree. br br Many years later br entire dissertations br were written on br the matter. br br And, the world br still can’t make up br its mind.br br Derek R.