(LAST UPDATED: 11-6-22)

Believe it or not, in addition to being novelists, journalists, screenwriters, etc., many of our members are also quite engaging poets. I hope to feature poems and poetry book offerings on this page. Help me fill ‘er up! (See the Resources page for workshop notices.) Do you have a poem or two you’d like to have featured? Send it along by email to me at lindathewriter@gmail.com, and be sure to include your copyright instructions if you want that included. My good friend Lisa Conger is getting us started with a short poem about writing. Thanks, Lisa!

The Academy of American Poets was…

Founded in 1934 to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry— the producer of Poets.org, Poem-a-Day, National Poetry Month, and more. Membership is reasonable and supports all their efforts. For more information: https://poets.org/

Check out their offerings, including: the annual which will be held in April 2023. And sign up to receive a Poem-a-Day to refresh your spirit and your mind!

Spark Central is located in Kendall Yards and offers workshops, playshops and other activities including writing sessions. Focused primarily on youth, there are a few ideas for adults that might be of interest, e.g. for poets as noted below. Check out their site: https://spark-central.org/

SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS · 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Adults · Join us for a workshop catered to driven poets. Eastern Washington University MFA students will lead us in discussions about craft elements, style, and form. If you’re a poet seeking a critical lens to improve your work with a dedicated group of fellow readers and writers, come find your spark!

This program is free thanks to community support. Join us for Poetry After Dark on second and fourth Wednesday of the month!

WHY I WRITE

Because the ink,
like Hansel & Gretel’s breadcrumbs
lead me deep
into the forest of my heart.

WHY I DON’T WRITE

Because the ink,
like Hansel & Gretel’s breadcrumbs
lead me deep
into the forest of my heart.

Lisa Conger

John Fox, PPM and others offer training in using poetry for therapeutic purposes. Contact the Institute for Poetic Medicine for information about educational opportunities in poetry. https://poeticmedicine.org/

Stephen Lalonde: https://ouranianpublishing.com/

What should I write?

What shall I write?

What can I write?

What will I write?

Ah, the suspense is killing me!

–Linda Bond (drawing by Martin Bond)