Class Description
In this class, we'll explore the ways in which poetry helps us slow down and pay attention. "Absolutely unmixed attention," the philosopher Simone Weil wrote, "is prayer." How does poetry help us approach the larger meanings of our life? What does poetry help us notice that we wouldn't notice otherwise? How is this deep noticing a revolutionary act--either of wonder or outrage, a rallying cry for the beautiful and for justice and for spirit.
We'll also look at the ways in which slowing down and paying close attention to our poems themselves can help us become better poets. We'll look closely at word choice, use of blank spaces, punctuation, and explore the relationship between form and meaning in a poem.
The class will give you tools to read better--and write better.
In a period in which we're so inundated with information, much of it bad, how can poetry help us tune into what we care about so that we shift our perception and create the change we want to see--in our poems and beyond them.
This class will include close readings, some time to generate new work, discussion, short mindful meditation, to focus our attention, and exercises to take home with you.
Poets we might look at include: Audre Lorde, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Rilke, Mary Oliver, Whitman and others.
Class Format
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!
Scholarship Information
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!