POETRY WEEK 1 WINTER DUE 1/8/04

Welcome newcomers, welcome back veteran poets.

Generally, you'll receive instructions for your poetry workshop assignments a full week in advance, but Week 1 is an exception.

For this Thursday's workshop, I'd like you to do two things. First, write a poem that focuses on a sensation. This should be interpreted broadly, but I'm particularly interested in referencing a single, clearly described sense-event, whether invented or real. There is no end to the possibilities: a kiss, a dive into a cold lake, a bite of an orange, the smell of your grandmother's kitchen, hunger, handling a snake. Use one of these if neccessary, or, better yet, come up with one of your own.

There are a number of approaches to this type of work. One is to simply describe the event, but remember, if that's your choice, to try to do it with fresh language, using new metaphors and avoiding (please!) cliche. Another is to invent a way to evoke your sensation in the reader by using language that calls up or triggers a similar response; a poem about nausea that is, ugh, nauseating. A poem about the sensation of laughing that is funny. The sensation can be the only topic of the poem, or it can included as part of a larger poem, but the sensation itself is the thing I'm interested in.

There is a not-so-hidden agenda to beginning the quarter this way: the two integrated projects central to this quarter's work involve, first, Nidra, and, second, Breath. Sculpture and poetry will be equal components. Returning students have had some experience writing about Nidra, and concentrating on sensation is the first step in writing the poem, due Week 5, that will accompany your finished project. You are welcome to write about a sensation experienced during Nidra this week, but it may be easier to begin with an event that is, literally, more sensational, and then work backwards (over the next few weeks) towards the rich but subtle world of Nidra. It's also worth noting that, in terms of the integrated projects, poetry may as easily drive your concept, rather than be a simply a tag-along to the yoga and sculpture components.

I hasten to add that we will be exploring many other topics in Workshop this quarter; most of them unrelated to Nidra (or Breath.) The point of this exercise is to get you thinking about how to write about sensation (as opposed to writing about abstract ideas,) and to plant a seed that may help you grow a Week 5 poem that fits nicely with the Nidra and Body casting/sculptural components of the project.

Secondly, I'd like to continue our habit of having each student bring in a poem (whatever that is) that they admire. Newcomers should ask returning students about this feature. and begin looking for something they really like. Be prepared to say why and what it is about the piece that you like. Each week we'll spend some time having students read or play a favorite, until we work through the entire group, everyone contributes. Remember to put your name and Week number (this is 1) on the orignal poem you bring in Thursday. Good luck!