Despite reports that “poetry is dead,” the range of work being produced today is unparalleled compared to any other time. In this workshop, we will focus on expanding our poetic toolkit through the study of contemporary poems and the writing of our own poems.

In each class meeting, we will read a wide aesthetic range of contemporary poetry and use these poems to highlight an aspect of craft including, but not limited to: voice, music, imagery, form, space, and humor. Students will be encouraged to suggest craft elements for class discussion. There will also be guided in-class exercises where students get the chance to practice craft elements in their own writing.

The core of this class is the workshop. You will bring in your own poems and receive positive, supportive, and constructive feedback for revision from the instructor and the students in the class. For new writers, the class will highlight a variety of tools wielded by poets. More experienced writers will expand their aesthetic range by learning new techniques and reexamining other ways to use familiar poetic devices.