import re


def text(norns):
    """
    Returns ASCII text from one (or more) nodes with minimized whitespace.
    
    node can be a list of dom nodes or a single node.
    """
    nodes = norns if hasattr(norns, '__iter__') else (norns,)
    return re.sub(r"\s+", " ", " ".join(n.toxml("ASCII") for n in nodes))