Poetry Workshop with Lee H. McCormack Starts February 14th

CONTENT, IMAGINATION, & SPIRIT IN POETRY
A Winter Study Group Using Uncommon Threads To Map the Journey Through Matter
with Lee H. McCormack, Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate, Emeritus

Hosted by The Vineyard Haven Public Library

8 sessions on Saturday afternoons from 2pm-4pm, beginning February 14th, and continuing on alternate Saturdays through May.

Intended to be an extended writing/study group meeting twice a month through winter until June, we will explore with each other, in order to grow as poets, writing poetry in depth by studying some important world poets (Transtromer, Machado, Rilke, Vallejo, Rumi, Celan, Milosz, Popa, Ristos, Alberti, Parra, for example), who have shaped and influenced original American poets, in hopes that participants will open up to greater dimensions and creative possibilities by stretching beyond more commonly studied poems and content, imagery, and imagination. Not intended to be academic or technical, it will focus primarily on aspects of writing poetry that will encourage experimentation in in-depth content, metaphor, and imagery, as well as finding original and unique ways to express this amazing experience of being a spirit moving in this journey through matter. It is hoped participants will be able to commit to it through the winter, as I see this as a growing group process to be shared, and hope we will do a reading of work produced at the end of May at the library.

Lee H. McCormack is a 43 year resident of the Vineyard who has been writing and studying poetry for 56 years. In 2012 he was chosen by the Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society as the first Martha's Vineyard poet Laureate. He has studied with Thomas Lux, Galway Kinnell, Charles Simic, Robert Pinsky, Sharon Olds, Peter Klappert, and others in his criminal pursuit of poetry. He is currently engaged in organizing three books of poetry for publication, writing, readings, and hosting poetry events on the Island, and looks forward to connecting with others in this winter study group.

Registration by February 14th is required. To sign up or for more details, contact Lee H. McCormack at 508-560-5071 or mydawgbeans@gmail.com.