Pesems

Pesems are short, multimedia poems that blend verbal performance with sound design. They are typically produced as single-clip videos or audio tracks and shared on social media. The form foregrounds the relationship between text and sound, using spoken word, singing, or chanting layered with ambient music, field recordings, or digital effects.

Origin and usage: The term pesem emerges in online poetry communities in the 2010s and 2020s as a hybrid of slam poetry, lyric videos, and micro-poetry. It is a descriptive label for a versatile practice rather than a fixed genre, and its exact boundaries vary by creator and platform.

Form and technique: Pesems vary in length from roughly 20 seconds to several minutes. They often rely on concise text paired with distinctive vocal delivery and simplified musical textures. Production typically uses accessible tools and favors clarity of delivery, rhythm, and mood over extended narrative.

Distribution and reception: Pesems circulate on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and independent archives. Audiences value immediacy and mood, and the format is praised for broadening poetry’s reach. Some critics caution that the fusion with music and performance can blur distinctions between poetry, song, and sound art.