Poetry As a Form of Attention - Remote!

Class Description

In this class, we'll explore the ways in which poetry helps us slow down and pay attention. "Absolutely unmixed attention," the philosopher Simone Weil wrote, "is prayer." How does poetry help us approach the larger meanings of our life? What does poetry help us notice that we wouldn't notice otherwise? How is this deep noticing a revolutionary act--either of wonder or outrage, a rallying cry for the beautiful and for justice and for spirit.

We'll also look at the ways in which slowing down and paying close attention to our poems themselves can help us become better poets. We'll look closely at word choice, use of blank spaces, punctuation, and explore the relationship between form and meaning in a poem.

The class will give you tools to read better--and write better.

In a period in which we're so inundated with information, much of it bad, how can poetry help us tune into what we care about so that we shift our perception and create the change we want to see--in our poems and beyond them.

This class will include close readings, some time to generate new work, discussion, short mindful meditation, to focus our attention, and exercises to take home with you.

Poets we might look at include: Audre Lorde, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Rilke, Mary Oliver, Whitman and others.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

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 more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.