Let's crack poems open and see them for their parts. W.D. Snodgrass took 101 acclaimed poems and did just that: he re-wrote them into what he called De/Compositions--or, good poems gone wrong. Snodgrass recast each poem, line-by-line, until the poem diverged into another beast entirely. His versions document how artistic choices accumulate to a transcendent final product. We'll take a similar tack. Each week, you'll tackle a poem, render your own version, and share. Our versions will question each choice the poet made, at the same time we’ll direct energies into making the poems "ours."
Let's crack poems open and see them for their parts--where are they successful & resonant? Where are they timid, show weakness, or overflow their banks? W.D. Snodgrass took 101 acclaimed poems and re-wrote them into what he called De/Compositions--or, good poems gone wrong. Snodgrass recast each poem, line-by-line, until the result looked entirely different from the original. His versions document how artistic choices accumulate, and translate to a transcendent product. No gesture is too small, no trope too tiny, each choice matters in crafting the sound and sensation of the poem.
Each week, participants will choose from among 2-3 poems to discuss and render their own version. You can deconstruct it, recast it classically, go Minimalist, whatever strikes you. Our versions will question each choice the poet made, and redirect that energy into making our “own” poems.
Participants produce 4-5 poems, and read/pick apart the likes of Jeanette Allée, Frank Bidart, Michael Dickman, Miriam Bird Greenberg, Lynda Hull, Yusef Komunyakaa, Phillip Larkin, Ada Limón, Kay Ryan and Dean Young.
Hi Rule Breakers:
Since we last wrote, I've started graduate school in Educational Technology and Networked Learning. I've learned a lot, including where this course could be improved.
To wit, it's being revamped and re-run with some new facilitation help. The content will now be self-selected, and we're creating assignments to be much more collaborative.
I hope you'll join me at Hack this Poem. Sign up is here.
Best to you all,
Vanessa
