One of the root words for poetry is poesis – ‘making’. But what exactly ‘makes’ poetry and how do poems work? By looking at a variety of poems, students will uncover some of the issues surrounding the ‘making’ of poetry and gain a fuller understanding and appreciation of poetry’s power. The course will encourage students to understand that good writers need to be good readers, and that success with writing is more dependent upon perseverance, motivation and effort than on lightning flashes of inspiration.  The course will be a combination of prepared readings, lectures on specific topics, and workshopping of students’ own poems.

By the end of this course, students will have a working knowledge of a variety of poetic forms, and understand how to work with image and metaphor, as well as rhythm, lineation, sound and tone. Students will be introduced to the work of a range of different poets through a course reader. They will take away with them a sense of the discipline and craft that goes into the writing of poetry, as well as a sense of the importance of editing and drafting and of familiarising themselves with the special tools that poetry writing requires. Critiquing workshops comprise the second half of the three-hour class. Students will receive verbal and written feedback on their poems from Judith, as well as critical contributions from other class members.

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Expected Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will understand the function of poetic techniques like rhythm, lineation, sound, tone, and metaphor, and how to apply these techniques in their own work.
2. Participants will be familiar with various poets working across a range of styles.
3. Participants will have strengthened their own poetry using in-class critiques and workshopping.

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Participant Requirements

During the course students will need to bring copies of poems to be workshopped, enough for each class member.