I figure the best thing I can offer is a how to class. I will start with a very rudimentary explanation of what a poem is, what language is, why we cling to this simple form, who it’s for, some good examples of poems that to my mind get right to it, what do I mean by it and how we can write one or two right now. And by that I do mean everyone will write two, yes two poems in this very brief class. We will look at John Cage, Lucille Clifton, John Wieners, James Schuyler and most likely my friend, the UK poet, Sophie Robinson. These guys to my mind are practically dancers in the way that their poems both invite and offer mystery at once. Which is what I like to see on the dance floor. And on the page. I have a very good way of ending this workshop, class, gathering, too and I will ask you to assist in this awesome closure once I know who you are. I look forward to meeting you.
What you need to participate:
Zoom and a reliable Internet connection
This workshop is suitable for:
all poetry experience levels
Time zone:
This workshop will be held at 11:00am 27 February 2022 AEST time / Brisbane time.
Ticketing:
Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, from concession ($30) to full ($40) to feelin’ flush ($50, i.e. subsidise a concession ticket by choosing to pay a bit extra).
One free ticket is reserved for a person experiencing financial hardship — please get in touch.
Upon booking, you will receive email confirmation and, closer to the workshop, further instructions and a Zoom link.
About your facilitator:
Eileen Myles (they/them) came to New York from Boston in 1974 to be a poet. Their books include For Now (an essay/talk about writing), I Must Be Living Twice/new and selected poems, and Chelsea Girls. They showed their photographs in 2019 at Bridget Donahue, NYC. Eileen has received a Guggenheim Fellowship and an award from the American Academy of Arts & Letters. They live in New York and Marfa, TX.