THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

This course is designed to help students understand, enjoy, and compose poetry. Students will embark on an exploration of poetry that begins centuries in the past and travels through time to the free verse and spoken-word poetry of today. They will examine the fixed forms, meters, metaphors, and sound devices of poets across time in order to inform their own writing while composing their own poems and collections.

Class Meetings: Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 8 – December 15, 2026
Spring Semester: January 12 – May 11, 2027

Student Expectations: In-class assignments will consist primarily of brief prompts and exercises that are designed to generate creative ideas or reflect techniques and strategies in creative composition. Assignments outside of class will consist of original works or poetry collections that utilize the ideas and techniques discussed in class.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: The instructor will provide feedback on student work.

Materials: None

Prerequisites: Students may not join in the second semester if they did not attend the first semester of this course.