zespoem

Zespoem is a term used in contemporary poetry to describe a form or concept rather than a fixed genre. There is no single, universally accepted definition, and meanings vary by author and community. In some online and zine discourse, zespoems are short, experimental pieces designed for digital platforms, often featuring fragmentary syntax, unusual line breaks, multilingual lines, or rapid, iterative publication. In other contexts, the term denotes collaborative practices in which multiple writers contribute lines or stanzas within a single piece, frequently facilitated by online tools, shared documents, or social media threads. The resulting works may read as a sequence of voices or as a collage of stylistic fragments.

Origin and etymology are unclear. The word appears to be a neologism that emerged in online literary scenes in the 2010s and 2020s, with no consensus on its derivation. Some writers treat zespoems as a hybrid of lyric poetry and procedural text, while others view it as a branding label for a family of experimental micro-poems. The term is sometimes used broadly to describe experimental poetry practices that emphasize openness, collaboration, and hybrid forms, rather than to denote a single formal rule.

Reception is mixed: supporters highlight accessibility and innovation, while critics caution that imprecise terminology can blur distinctions among different styles. No canonical collection or author governs the form, and the concept continues to evolve with digital publishing and participatory authorship.

See also: experimental poetry, collaborative writing, digital poetry, found poetry, algorithmic poetry.