Versedoes

Versedoes is a term used in some circles of contemporary poetry and digital media to describe a practice that blends verse with interactive or procedural elements. In this usage, poems may be generated, performed, or displayed with inputs or choices that influence their form or meaning, creating a hybrid of traditional verse and algorithmic or performative instruction.

The exact origin of the term is unclear, and it does not have a single, universally accepted definition. It began to appear in online poetry forums and experimental journals in the late 2010s as practitioners explored combining textual verse with interactivity, generative prompts, or performance cues. Because of its fluid usage, versedoes is often treated as a loose umbrella for several related approaches rather than a fixed genre.

Key characteristics commonly associated with versedoes include non-linear or branching structures, prompts or inputs that affect the progression of the piece, and an emphasis on process and participation alongside the text itself. Works labeled as versedoes frequently prioritize reader or performer engagement, inviting collaboration, improvisation, or decision-making that alters the sequence, wording, or audio accompanying the verse. Language tends to be concise and experimental, with attention to how form and choice influence meaning.

In practice, versedoes appears across formats such as interactive digital poems, web installations, printed works with reader-driven pathways, and mobile or desktop apps that generate variations of a base verse. The term remains niche and evolving, reflecting broader conversations about the boundaries between literature, technology, and audience agency. See also: interactive poetry, found poetry, generative poetry.