Have you ever felt stuck for inspiration? This two-hour experience will guide you through an ancient tactic that poets have long relied on for inspiration: ekphrasis.

Ekphrasis is writing that responds to artistic objects, especially painting and sculpture. In our time together, we will try our hand at this ancient tactic in various ways. We will review examples of ekphrasis by Mary Jo Bang, Carl Phillips, Natasha Trethewey, and others, looking at the poems and at the art that inspired them. We will also write ekphrastic poems together, looking at paintings and other visual objects, including both art that I will share with you as well as objects in your own home environment. We will see how this mode of writing unlocks what we didn’t even know was in our hearts. By the end of these two hours, you will have experienced one of the oldest, most foolproof ways to summon some verbal magic to the page whenever you want to.

This course is open to all levels; no previous experience writing poetry is required.

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Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout for 10% off through May 6! (Porch members, check your email for your special earlybird discount code.)