Something Deep: Poetry, Poetics, and Aesthetics

This introduction to poetry and poetics will focus on the reading, writing, and revising of poetry and will include a brief history of global poetic tradition. We will explore the nature of aesthetics and the role of lyric in human culture as we work to write and workshop drafts of original poems. This course is constructed to meet each student where they are—it will be a lively and welcoming environment for beginners with plenty of room to stretch for the experienced poet. We will explore form, technique, and personal expression to craft poems that contain depth and breadth of meaning. As Mathew Zapruder observes, “Poems remind us that, at our core, we share something deep.”

This is a Hybrid course with some required elements on Canvas.

Required class meetings are In Person on the Olympia campus. Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. 4 credits.