Giving a poetry lesson using bear memes and Robert Burns, Francis Scott Key and Whitney Houston, and Eric Carle and William Blake. Plus: the Versecraft podcast and upcoming poetry events
Thank you! The kids honestly seemed to enjoy it from reports I heard from parents. It went so much better than I thought it would, especially for the last hour of a Friday afternoon. I highly recommend Versecraft podcast as a way to listen to a variety of really highly skilled poets.
Complete aside, A.E. Stallings is one of my favorite poets. I think you’d like the poem “Fear of Happiness” — maybe it’s one to bring to the poetry group.
OMG. Fear of happiness is amazing. What a stab to my heart the last line. Also found “ultrasound your picture” by George David Clark. Another heartbreaking last line. Thank you!!
Love this! My class gets to standing, stomping, whopping desks, punching the air, and so on when it’s time to talk about poetics. I find those days a great deal of fun - PE for English majors without the special clothes. This is a perfect use of the Five Hundred Miles song! 😂
What a great way to engage young students in poetry!! And thank you for turning me on to Ryan Wilson and the other poets you mentioned.
Here’s the link to the Stallings poem:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/53376/fear-of-happiness
Thank you! The kids honestly seemed to enjoy it from reports I heard from parents. It went so much better than I thought it would, especially for the last hour of a Friday afternoon. I highly recommend Versecraft podcast as a way to listen to a variety of really highly skilled poets.
Complete aside, A.E. Stallings is one of my favorite poets. I think you’d like the poem “Fear of Happiness” — maybe it’s one to bring to the poetry group.
OMG. Fear of happiness is amazing. What a stab to my heart the last line. Also found “ultrasound your picture” by George David Clark. Another heartbreaking last line. Thank you!!
Love this! My class gets to standing, stomping, whopping desks, punching the air, and so on when it’s time to talk about poetics. I find those days a great deal of fun - PE for English majors without the special clothes. This is a perfect use of the Five Hundred Miles song! 😂
Sounds awesome! And yes, The Proclaimers worked so well. 🎶
James Matthew Wilson
Tell him I said HI (enthusiastically)!
I'm leaving Wed for University of St Thomas Summer Writers Institute. Will meet the other Wilson!
It will be so great! Have a great trip. ❤️
Full of grand insights into prosody and poems! Love this, Zina!