Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
A happy accident, the bright ticking machine of the heart, possibility as gentle as spring rain. In this course, we’ll explore the often-fleeting, always-potent presence of joy in poetry. Together we’ll ask: must a poem be overtly “happy” to carry joy? In a literary culture that often prizes suffering as the hallmark of depth, what personal & political weight does joy assume? Is joy frivolous when studied as craft? Does turning our attention to it diminish or magnify its value?
We’ll examine what it means to write poems that unapologetically inhabit joy in a world where open emotion can feel awkward or vulnerable. Along the way, we’ll consider the emotional currents shaping a poet’s body of work, reflect on joy as an act of dissent throughout history & art, & brainstorm ways to cultivate joy as a habit—both in daily life & in poetic practice. Finally, we’ll think through the delicate coexistence of joy & suffering, & how poetry makes space for both.
Classes run on Saturdays from November 1st to December 6th, from 4–6 PM EST on Zoom. Poets of all ages & experience levels are welcome.
A happy accident, the bright ticking machine of the heart, possibility as gentle as spring rain. In this course, we’ll explore the often-fleeting, always-potent presence of joy in poetry. Together we’ll ask: must a poem be overtly “happy” to carry joy? In a literary culture that often prizes suffering as the hallmark of depth, what personal & political weight does joy assume? Is joy frivolous when studied as craft? Does turning our attention to it diminish or magnify its value?
We’ll examine what it means to write poems that unapologetically inhabit joy in a world where open emotion can feel awkward or vulnerable. Along the way, we’ll consider the emotional currents shaping a poet’s body of work, reflect on joy as an act of dissent throughout history & art, & brainstorm ways to cultivate joy as a habit—both in daily life & in poetic practice. Finally, we’ll think through the delicate coexistence of joy & suffering, & how poetry makes space for both.
Classes run on Saturdays from November 1st to December 6th, from 4–6 PM EST on Zoom. Poets of all ages & experience levels are welcome.