Class Description
In this class, we will explore what contemplative or spiritual poems might be; we will look closely at some examples; and we will discuss both the process and the craft of writing contemplative poetry. Poets we read closely may include Rumi, Rilke, Hopkins, Mary Oliver, Ross Gay and others.
We will look at specific techniques to write contemplative poems that avoid sentimentality, use heightened language, use the particular and the abstract, and attend to both what is and what is not said.
There will be time to write and time to explore writing from different kinds of prompts, including writing after meditation. And there will be time to share poems and get feedback.
The class is open to writers of every level who want to expand and deepen their approach to reading and writing poetry.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.