Part of The Poetry Society of New York's Weekly Virtual Workshop Series.
With poet K. Iver!
The question “Can poetry save the world?” has no actual meaning as no medium has rescued us all from injustice. But, can poetry be revolutionary? Can it strengthen resolve? Can it move the stuck? I believe the archive of American poetry says it does. In this workshop you’ll encounter the kinetic work of June Jordan, Langston Hughes, Audre Lorde, Danez Smith, Kaveh Akbar and others. You’ll listen closely to these voices, each distinct in their expression of resolve, and explore how language and form can challenge the status quo of public rhetoric. You’ll practice “speaking” to the page and will leave the workshop with a better understanding of writing poetry that advocates for life-affirming change, whatever that means to you.
About the Instructor: K. Iver is a nonbinary trans poet born in Mississippi. Their book Short Film Starring My Beloved’s Red Bronco won the 2022 Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry from Milkweed Editions. Their poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Boston Review, Kenyon Review, LA Review of Books, Poetry Northwest, TriQuarterly, and elsewhere. They have received fellowships from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, the Sewanee Writers Conference, the Ragdale Foundation, and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. They have a Ph.D. in Poetry from Florida State University. They live in Massachusetts.
* *This workshop will take place on Zoom.**