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Reader-determined poem

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

An experimental poem whose interpretation, sequence, or form shifts based on reader interaction, choice, or participatory engagement.

Detailed Definition
Poetry with multiple possible readings, interpretations, or structural variations determined by reader choices rather than fixed by the author. This experimental form challenges traditional concepts of authorial control and textual stability, positioning readers as active participants in creating meaning. May include variable content, alternative endings, or multiple reading paths, representing poetry's engagement with interactive media and reader-response theory.
Example
Example in poetry:
Jackson Mac Low’s “Diaries” use chance operations so readers determine meaning; bpNichol’s “The True Eventual Story of Billy the Kid” invites reader assembly of fragmented panels; Jen Bervin’s “Nets” overlays Shakespeare’s sonnets with erasure, allowing reader-determined focus; Anne Carson’s “Float” presents loose folios for non-linear reading; Divya Victor’s “CURB” uses typographic gaps requiring reader interpretation; Contemporary digital poems like those by Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries require reader clicks to reveal text—epitomizing reader-determined poems.
Additional Notes
Experimental form challenging fixed text concepts. May offer multiple reading sequences, alternative endings, or reader-chosen content. Raises questions about authorship and poetic authority.
Also Known As
Choice poem Variable verse Multiple-path poetry Reader-selected text Ergodic poetry
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