Class

Writing the Elegy

This is a class about writing elegies. It is intended for poets who see elegy as central to their craft, and who would like to workshop recent work in a supportive environment. As poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz writes, "the true subject of poetry is the loss of the beloved." This is a class that will consider and respect the different poems that emerge from different losses, as well as the many beloveds that can be lost. At the start of each class, we will read a few elegies by modern and contemporary elegists, who take innovative approaches to this longstanding and often fraught art form. Poets to be considered include Donald Hall, Michael Harper, Natasha Trethewey, Matt Rasmussen, James Tate, Danez Smith, and Gwendolyn Brooks. We will then consider your own elegies. Over two class sessions, we will be able to read, ruminate upon, and respond to two of your poems. Students should bring these works in progress to the class. Each student will receive oral feedback on both of their pieces from the class, as well as detailed written feedback from me.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Standard Time (CST); make sure you understand your time zone, and adjust accordingly

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.