Poem as Container

How does a poem hold emotional weight?

In this generative poetry workshop, students will explore how contemporary poets create emotional resonance through image systems, repetition, compression, silence, pacing, and associative movement. Rather than focusing on traditional form, this class investigates how emotional pressure shapes structure and language.

Through readings, discussion, prompts, and in-class writing, participants will generate new work rooted in recurring imagery, emotional tension, obsession, memory, and embodied experience.

We will read work by poets such as Marie Howe, Ada Limón, Ilya Kaminsky, Sharon Olds, Aracelis Girmay, Brigit Pegeen Kelly, and Mark Doty.

This workshop is ideal for poets and hybrid writers interested in creating work that feels emotionally layered, image-driven, and structurally alive.

Disclaimers

Please note that you will receive your Zoom link via email 24 hours before the start of this class. If you enroll in this class less than 24 hours before it begins, please either send us a message or email us at programs@sandiegowriters.org to request your link.

Please be advised that it is best to register at least a week before the start of a class to help our instructors prepare and ensure that it does not get canceled or rescheduled. Policies regarding registration, refunds, cancellations, etc. can be found on our policies page. If you would like to provide feedback regarding this class, please feel free to complete an evaluation form.

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