Where Poems Come From

About this course:

Often the “Muse” comes from the quotidian aspects of everyday living: watering our plants, a faded sign we see on the street, browsing the fruit aisle, a conversation we overhear. And often a poem is born from deep emotions—memories of our past, falling in love, or suffering through a difficult breakup, death of a loved one. Where Poems Come From explores poetry by a variety of poets that are memory, love, grief or humor based. Students of all levels will explore how poets write about similar subjects in different ways, and will gain ideas and prompts for their own work which will be written and shared in class. Through constructive, nonjudgmental feedback, offered in a cozy and creative environment, each student will receive encouragement and leave with work they can develop into poems. By the end of the four sessions, students will have experienced a wide range of eclectic poetry by modern and contemporary poets of a diverse set of identities and experiences that will serve as inspiration for their own work.