Why Read Poetry with poet Lee Kisling

Lee will bring poems by various poets to be read aloud and discussed.
The purpose is to share some excellent modern poems that are not widely known and to talk about what makes them fine examples of the craft of poetry. Imagine that!

Thursday, March 24
Twelve modern poems and why they are great.
Participants will receive handouts with the poems and some  biographical information about the poets. By “modern” it is meant from 1930 to today. Some of these fine poems you have never heard!

Thursday, April 21
Twelve great poems by women poets.
You already know about Emily Dickinson, but there are many great poems written by women and we will read some of them and talk about why every line counts and how word choices reveal that mysterious thing called voice.

Thursday, May 12
What’s the deal with Billy Collins?
He makes us grin, laugh, sometimes tear up. How does he do it? We will read twelve of his poems and discuss how this most popular poet is always a character in his poems and what that teaches us about writing.

Thursday, June 9
Enter the mind of a poet – how does a writer deal with both comedy and grief in the same poem?
Lee Kisling will read from his own work and we will explore how grief triggers the deepest part of a poet’s personality, and may be a critical aid in survival.

Part of NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley 2022. Everyone is welcome.