Birth, Death, Love, and Loss: these four themes touch all of our lives. Countless poems have been written about them and yet they refuse to give up their mysteries. In addition to reading unique poems on these universal issues, you'll draft and share your own in class. This class is suited for those new to poetry or those who want to get back into the poetry habit. We'll end with a discussion of writing rituals and routines, so you'll leave with new poems and plans to make poetry part of your life.
Note: This class is scheduled to take place in-person at Porch HQ. You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate, and we will enroll a maximum of 8 participants. Masks are not required at this time, though we will revisit this policy as needed. Check our website and this listing for details before you attend class.
Amie Whittemore (she/her) is the author of the poetry collections Glass Harvest (Autumn House Press), Star-tent: A Triptych (Tolsun Books) and Nest of Matches (Autumn House Press, 2024). She was the 2020-2021 Poet Laureate of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow. She teaches creative writing at Eastern Illinois University and directs MTSU Write, a from-home creative writing mentorship program.
Amie sent materials enough ahead for us to be familiar with concepts and example poems before we discussed them. In the three hour workshop, we looked at six approaches to personal and persona poems and how these approaches might be used in our own work. Time for discussion, for personal drafts, for breakout sharing with one other class member, and then a return for group summation was applied as much as possible for each of the six approaches. When a class member wanted longer discussion, Amie adjusted the remaining time appropriately so that we left knowing how to approach all six techniques. She's a masterful teacher as well as a fine poet!
Amie is a fantastic teacher; she was warm and encouraging and provided excellent examples of poems that we talked through as a class before attempting writing prompts. I would definitely take a class from her again in the future!
Amie is an engaging and lively presence on screen. A natural teacher.
