Class

How to End a Poem

Have you ever written the bulk of a poem, but can’t figure out how to wrap it up? If a poem’s ending is a goodbye, what kind of goodbye should we say? Should we slip out the side door? Make a commotion on the way out? Bow? How do we decide how to leave a poem? And when, exactly, should we leave?

In this generative session, we will consider the many ways to end a poem—techniques you can use to figure out where and how to exit a poem. We’ll learn by reading great endings by poets like Ross Gay, Sharon Olds, Aria Aber, Kevin Prufer, Fatimah Asghar, James Wright, Sandra Beasley, and more. Then we will write several endings of our own. We’ll also talk about how writing a poem’s ending can help us make the poem’s necessary discovery. Writers are encouraged to bring drafts of poems they’re working on, though writers can also choose to write new endings together. Writers can expect to leave with drafts of several endings and a better understanding of how to identify the best exit strategies for a particular poem.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.