Has an enthusiastic friend ever presented you a book by an acclaimed poet but you couldn’t see what the fuss was about? You’re in good company: a lot of good poetry is inaccessible at first. Good poetry is like good wine or a good performance - you can’t enjoy them if the language or imagery is closed, the cork is stuck or the performance requires a ticket you don’t have.

Fortunately, like using a corkscrew or handing an usher a ticket, the methods this course teaches will allow you to open up poems for your immediate enjoyment. Furthermore, as you get used to using them, the methods are like vineyard tours and backstage passes: you will learn and experience the behind-the-scenes secrets of how good poetry is made. We will use the techniques in enjoying a selection of great poetry by Mary Oliver, Elizabeth Bishop, Sharon Olds, Donald Hall, Billy Collins and others.

The six techniques are taught both live and in short online YouTube videos. Preview the videos before the first session so we can hit the ground running; they will also be available for your review. The three in-person sessions will flesh out the techniques using brief, fun exercises and while discussing the poems. You will learn to relish the challenge and excitement good poems bring. No matter your taste in poetry, or whether you are a beginner or a long-time connoisseur of these or other poets, the techniques and our interactions will be fun and add richness to your future reading. Demonstrations, brief exercises, discussion and video format.