Writing the Mystical: Poetry and Short Prose
The poet Kimiko Hahn said “Poetry is defined as a species of magic.” Brendan Myers, professor of Philosophy at Cegep Heritage College defines magic to mean “the quality of the things that stir up mystical feelings like amazement, curiosity, imagination, and above all wonder.” It’s no wonder that humans ascribe magic, mysticism, and poetry to the Divine. After humans created the Divine they placed sacred words in its mouth, words that express magic through poetry.
In this course we will read poets and writers like Bashō, Aristotle, Amarnath Ravva, Max Ritvo, Kazim Ali, Ross Gay, Margaret Noodin, Kimiko Hahn, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Muriel Leung. We will chart the ways in which these poets engage the sensorial experience of humanity and how it relates to the Divine, or how the body connects to the mystical. We will ask of each text we read in class, “where is the mystical?” and “How is the mystical mapped on the human body or in the human experiences?” “How does consideration of the mystical relate to notions of social justice?” By attuning our writerly ears to the human senses we will read, write, perform, and explore through music and dance expressions of several varieties of short prose and poetry.
Assignments will include an “attention journal,” weekly writing for workshop based on writing prompts, guided/walking meditations, yoga poses, the readings, and tarot card spreads, a performance of a creative work fine-tuned throughout the course, and a portfolio of original writing.