Ars Poetica

Ars Poetica – the ‘art of poetry’ explained in poetic form—is a sort of meta-view of poetry, a poem about poems.  A breaking down of the fourth wall, the poem winks at us, like an actor facing the camera, as if to say, ‘I’m here, doing this thing we call poetry.’   Nudge, nudge.  As a conversation starter, let’s go back to 15 BC to visit what Horace has to say in the original Ars Poetica and then listen to poets still having this discussion today.  What is the purpose of poetry, and why does it endure?  Does it need to ‘instruct and delight’ or can it just ‘be’?  We have plenty of contemporary examples (MacLeish, Neruda, Elizabeth Alexander) and we’ll try our hand at writing some of our own ars poetica as well.  

This series of workshops combines reading, discussing the form, and poetry writing.  It’s a safe, non-critical space for beginners and experienced writers alike and promises to deliver new perspectives on what poetry can be.  By the end, you’ll have your own personal answer to the question of ars poetica.

STUDY DETAILS:

• Four two-hour workshops led by Alison Cable
• Tuesday, 5.00-7.00 pm (UK), 6-27 February 2024
• £100 for four meetings, to include opening notes and resources