Class

Organic Poetry

Poetry, at its most authentic, is a transmutation of our lived experience, channeled and crafted into new forms. At the bedrock of all poetry lies a marriage of sound, rhythm, meaning and form. From the rich music of being, beautiful poems can spring up and guide us into a deeper reality. A reality that is interconnected, vibrant, and brimming with life. The clay of poems exists all around us, and some of the most poignant, inventive, and stirring poems are those drawn from the most unsuspecting places. They dare to break the mold of the familiar, uncover the extraordinary in the mundane, and pulse with the magic of our most personal experiences.

In this class, students seek out new rhythms, melodies, forms and syntax in unconventional places, whether it be a stop sign, a song on the radio, a news broadcast, or a text book, to broaden their creativity, tune their ears, and enliven their poetry. The class will help students identify different formal qualities of poetry that spring up naturally in the world around them - whether the feminine endings in Hamlet and People Under the Stair’s Acid Rain Drops, the natural cadence of a news broadcaster, the greater metaphor hiding beneath a technical manual, or recording the cascading myths that unfold in their dreams, students will practice drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, unlocking new facets of their voice, and developing a deeper appreciation for poetry. Class will consist of both instruction on craft and ample time to generate new writing.

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.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.