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Written once

Concept
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

Describing a text composed or inscribed a single time, with no duplicates

Detailed Definition
Written once denotes a poem composed in a single, unaltered draft, valued for its spontaneity and authenticity; this concept, central to certain avant-garde and confessional traditions, treats the initial act of writing as a pure, unmediated expression of the poet’s inner state, resisting revision as a form of artistic integrity.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poem written on a melting ice sculpture; A verse composed in steam on a mirror; A digital poem that exists only during a live stream; A ceremonial inscription on biodegradable paper
Additional Notes
Written once implies a poem composed without revision, embodying Romantic ideals of spontaneous overflow; while rarely literal, it underscores values of authenticity and immediacy in poetic practice.
Also Known As
Single-draft poem unrevised inscription spontaneous utterance first-thought composition Haplography
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