How a Poem Begins (an International Course)
Doesn’t inspiration feel good? The rush of language, the flash of illumination, the racing to the notebook or computer or phone to write it down as if taking dictation from a god or muse? It happens, like lightning, but poets can’t count on it, even if they persistently wait in the rain. We have no way of knowing how our best work is going to practices that might get us there. Each week, we’ll explore poems that seem driven by various modes, experiences, and procedures, such as poems driven by narrative, by sound, by form; poems that have something urgent to communicate; poems that happen mathematically (through addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division); and poems that come about by jazzing around with language. Then we’ll try out all of these approaches and make them our own. Poets represented in the readings will include Gertrude Stein, Harryette Mullen, John Ashbery, Joe Brainard, Brenda Shaughnessy, and Jane Yeh. This workshop is designed for students at all levels of experience.
This is a private group. To join you must be a registered site member and request group membership.