This course is about observing and listening to the world
as it is. Not through cell phones or ear buds, but directly. (I wrote
“nakedly,” but don’t want to shock anyone!) The books assigned are about
what we can learn by opening up our senses and our spirits to the world
as we walk through it. You will write essays and you will write poems,
though probably not the kinds of poems you recognize. The texts we read
will provide you with models for your own writing. There will be
constant writing exercises, in class and out. At the end of the class,
you’ll put together a chapbook of your work for the course. Along the way you’ll be required to do two poetry experiments each week, attend readings outside of class, and write essays and poems.
Required readings will include: _Ordinary Affects_ by Kathleen Stewart, as well as three volumes of poetry.