About
Dates: 2 Tuesdays, October 28 - November 4 Time: 7 - 9pm (Pacific Coast Time) Format: In Person at Left Margin LIT Ages: Adult Why are nature poems so popular? I suspect it’s because they connect us to our own nature as human beings destined to live on this planet, with its unique weather systems, landscapes, seasonal cycles, flora, and fauna. The trap with writing nature poems is that it’s very easy to praise the sublimity of the natural world. The best nature poems, in my humble opinion, are embodied experiences that depend on emotional complexity, nuance, and uncertainty. Pretty language about a pretty subject isn’t enough to carry a poem into our collective consciousness (whatever that is these days). During our first class meeting, we’ll study a packet of pastoral and nature poems from the Romantic period to the present, which—in the U.S. at least—is largely dominated by “ecopoetry” (poems that address environmental concerns and ecological awareness). In these examples, we’ll explore how form, imagery, and voice impact or stimulate us as readers. Then, with these poems in mind, I’ll share several poetry prompts that will hopefully inspire your own nature poem drafts, which we’ll share and discuss during our second class meeting. All experience levels welcome. LEFT MARGIN LIT'S CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY: If you find that you can't take a class for which you registered, you may request a refund, less a $25 administrative fee, at least 48 hours prior to the start of the first class session. After that threshold, refunds are not possible. If a class doesn't reach its minimum enrollment, it will be cancelled, and all students will receive full refunds.