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Compressed lyric

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A highly condensed personal poem that distills emotional depth and lyrical intensity into minimal lines or stanzas.

Detailed Definition
A brief personal poem, typically under ten lines, that achieves emotional intensity through compression and economy of expression rather than extended development. Influenced by Imagist principles emphasizing precision and the presentation of essential moments, compressed lyrics distill complex feelings into concentrated form, as exemplified in the work of Sara Teasdale and H.D., where single images or brief statements carry profound emotional weight through their very brevity and careful word choice.
Example
Example in poetry:
Sara Teasdale's brief personal lyrics; Short imagist poems of feeling; Compressed emotional statements; Brief intense personal expressions under 15 lines
Additional Notes
Influenced by Imagist movement's emphasis on precision and economy. Often focuses on single image or moment. Sara Teasdale and H.D. exemplify this compressed intensity.
Also Known As
Brief lyric Minimal personal poem Short emotional verse Condensed subjective piece Elliptical lyric
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