Backyard Poetry – An Ozark Nature Writing Class

About this event

“There are many ways we spend time outdoors in the Ozarks–from fishing in the White River to mushrooming in Winslow, from hiking the trails in Devil’s Den to taking a simple walk down the block to see hydrangeas. What are the ways we relate to the natural world in which we share? What delights us and what troubles us about our part in the ways we inherit and affect the world? This is a 3-class series for writers to read poetry and draft new work, engage in guided critique, and share revised work. We will write poems that blend experiences in the Ozarks with appreciation, concern, longing, and exploration. Our first class (11/14) will be for reading and drafting. Our second class (11/21) will be for guided critique. Our third meeting (12/5) will be an opportunity for writers in the class to share their polished work at a reading that is open to the public. In these classes, writers will engage with challenging ideas about nature and consider contemporary tensions and ideas in nature poetry. Supportive works for writers might be Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer or the poems of Natalie Diaz, Cody-Rose Clevidence, Walt Whitman, and other poets who write about land and space. $90 for series of 3 classes, Saturdays, Nov. 14, 21, and Dec. 5. All ticket sales are final. No refunds, cancellations, or exchanges will be issued for any reason, including but not limited to severe weather, personal emergencies, or changes in travel plans. In the event of a cancellation by the organizer, a refund or exchange will be provided.

From Ozark Folkways