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  • Truth to Power: Poetry for Our Times With Poets Laureate // with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg

Truth to Power: Poetry for Our Times With Poets Laureate // with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg

  • 01 January 2018
  • 20 January 2021
  • Online

Registration

NOTE: This class does not have a set time frame -- you may register and move through the material at any time of the year.

This self-paced poetry class combines innovative writing prompts, inspiring essays and videos on the craft and passion of writing powerful poetry about our lives and times, and written discussions on the history and possibilities of poetry that speaks to social transformation.

Each unit highlights both state and national poet laureate past or present, and a historic poet dedicated to changing the world, including a writing prompt and writing craft or writing life discussion from that poet, some of the poets laureate's poems with writing prompts, a discussion of a poet from the past or present who crafts poetry for social transformation, and exciting links to interviews, essays, and videos.

By the end of this 12-unit class, you will have written dozens of new poems (over 10 writing prompts in each unit), learned more about poetry as a craft and way of life, considered various ways to speak truth to power for individual and social change, and interacted with the writing and poetics of 37 American poets.

Poets highlighted in the class: Each unit will feature a state poet laureate, a U.S. (or tribal) poet laureate, and a historic poets, including the following: Walt Whitman, W. S. Merwin, Marilyn L. Taylor, Emily Dickinson, Dick Allen, William Stafford, Sue Brennan Walker, Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, William Trowbridge, Robert Penn Warren, Muriel Rukeyser, Mark Strand, Grace Paley, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Adrienne Rich, Joyce Brinkman, Juan Felipe, Herrera, Denise Low, Wendell Berry, Rita Dove, David Romtvedt, Sharon Olds, Luci Tapahonso, Kimberly Blaeser, Yusef Komunyakaa, Joy Harjo, Marjory Wentworth, Audre Lorde, Elizabeth Woody, Natasha Trethewey, Li-Young Lee, JoAnn Balingit, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Naomi Shahib Nye, Tracy K. Smith, and Richard Blanco. (Photo: from left, Audre Lorde, Meridel Le Sueur, and Adrienne Rich.)

Recommended supplementary text: An Endless Skyway: Poetry from the United Poets Laureate of America, edited by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Denise Low, Walter Bargen, and Marilyn L. Taylor. Ice Cube Press. NOTE: Special discounted rate for supplementary text available to those who enroll in this class.

Week by Week

Each unit includes:

  • 10-15 writing prompts 

  • 3-6 poems by visiting state poet laureate, U.S. or tribal poet laureate, and historic poet.

  • Handout on craft or other consideration by visiting poet laureate.

  • Essays and videos on poetry as a catalyze for social change and ecological stewardship.

  • Links to articles, interviews, websites, etc. featuring visiting poet laureate

Who Should Take This Class

This class is appropriate for those with any amount of experience writing poetry, from those who are interested in learning more and might be a bit nervous about it, to writers with years of experience who want to generate new work and brush up on elements of craft and be exposed to new contemporary writers, and how writing can be a positive force for change.

NOTE: This class cannot count towards TLA Foundations Certification requirements.

Format

This is a self-paced online class. By self-paced, we mean that you do this class on your own without interacting with the teacher or a cohort group, and according to your own schedule, allowing you to engage with the the material on your own timeline. Each unit is full of resources, reflections, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Students should expect to spend 4-7 hours per unit perusing resources and readings and engaging in several writing prompts (although with so much material and so many writing prompts, students can certainly spend more time revisiting each unit to find more inspiration and ideas).

About Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Ph.D., the 2009-13 KansasPoet Laureate, has created this class through study, experience, and in conversations with over a dozen state poets laureate (many of whom shared their best handouts and writing prompts). Caryn is the author of two dozen books, including the recent Miriam's Well, a novel; Following the Curve, poetry; and Everyday Magic, a collection of beloved blog posts and personal essays. Founder of Transformative Language Arts at Goddard College, Mirriam-Goldberg also leads writing workshops widely, particularly for people living with serious illness and their caregivers. With singer Kelley Hunt, she co-leads Brave Voice writing and singing retreats. www.CarynMirriamGoldberg.com

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