// WHAT IS MONOSPACE POETRY?

> Definition

Monospace poetry is visual poetry created using fixed-width (monospace) fonts, where every character occupies the same horizontal space. This constraint enables precise spatial arrangements impossible with proportional typefaces.

> The Grid

Every monospace poem exists on an invisible grid. Characters align vertically and horizontally with mathematical precision. The space between characters becomes as meaningful as the characters themselves.

┌─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┐
│H│e│l│l│o│ │ │ │
├─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┤
│ │ │ │ │W│o│r│l│
├─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┼─┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │d│
└─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┘

> Box Drawing

Unicode provides box-drawing characters that create clean lines and frames:

Single: ─ │ ┌ ┐ └ ┘ ├ ┤ ┬ ┴ ┼
Double: ═ ║ ╔ ╗ ╚ ╝ ╠ ╣ ╦ ╩ ╬
Rounded: ╭ ╮ ╰ ╯

> Techniques

• Concrete poetry — words form visual shapes
• ASCII art — images from text characters
• Code poetry — executable programs as poems
• Frame poetry — text within decorative borders
• Spatial poetry — meaning through arrangement

> Tools

Any text editor works. Recommended:

• VS Code with JetBrains Mono
• Sublime Text
• Good old Notepad
• vim (for the brave)