Wednesday, August 19th, 2026, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Meeting will take place in the Poetry Center's Alumni Room, Room 205; limit 12 students. General registration for Summer Classes & Workshops will open on Tuesday, May 12th at 10:00AM.
How does a poem make sense? Not every poem follows the linear logic of prose—instead, poetry often moves by emotional logic, associative leaps, and intuitive connections that feel right even when they don't "make sense" on paper. In this generative workshop, we'll explore how successful poems balance literal coherence with emotional truth, examining works that make audacious logical leaps while still feeling grounded and earned. Through close reading and writing exercises, participants will practice identifying where a poem needs more logical scaffolding and where it needs to trust its emotional instincts. Writers at all levels are welcome; come ready to read, write, and rethink what it means for a poem to "make sense."