ADVANCED POETRY WRITING

Writing sample required to apply. Instructions and the application form can be found here: https://english.barnard.edu/english/creative-writing-courses. 

Muriel Rukeyser remarked that “American poetry​ has been part of a culture in conflict.” Indeed, culture worldwide is in​ conflict. This course will explore “the necessity of poetry” from a phrase by​ Adrienne Rich. It is organized to ensure the development of new work and​ further study of poetic practice for committed student writers. We will​ examine mostly contemporary poetry using specific poetry collections from​ poets as varied as John Keene, Rosa Alcalá, Megan Fernandes, Harryette​ Mullen, Ilya Kaminsky and Emily Lee Luan as well as ancestors: Rich, June​ Jordan, Gertrude Stein. In the classroom, student poems and ideas about​ poetics are shared, questioned, and critiqued. These selected readings​ explore different strands of poetics that will inform the in-class and​ assigned prompts allowing student writers to expand their interrogation of​ the genre and its many forms. You will read, listen, write, and make your​ own voice seen and heard.