I had enough water bottles to quench 24 poets….we got to quench 7! Christine Rathbun Ernst led a vigorous and varied group of poets on Sunday. It is kind of a ‘build-a-poet’ workshop. Some come with comfort and more experience, some come with crazy enthusiasm, some come with a focus that is evident in comment and demeanor, and all work terribly well together to exhibit the range of poetry output. I guess what I always come away with watching Christine bait and hook the inner poet, is the sense that poetry will wear any cloak, promote any feeling, speak any language but the Real Poem? That’s one that can get away if we don’t pay attention. As an initial workshop for opening up your poem tank, Christine has so many good tickets. We really did have a broad range of focus and purpose among the group and yet, I believe everyone came away with something that can help kick in that poem that needs to be written. Poems are to be read aloud, and so…this was fun…everyone got to read pamphlets – you know, the kind that promote sea fishing or cereal or a golf course, for example – and put a spin on the interpretation (read as if you were reading to the cutest puppy ever, etc.) of what they were reading. Try it. Shakespeare would be proud! I hope there are further opportunities – sponsored or spontaneous – for teen poets to gather and workshop their poetry. Thank you, Christine. I hear you will be returning to Sandwich High for a moment with Ms. Gayton’s freshman class. Awesome. And, poetry? Look for the open mikes, the Cotuit Center for the Arts Chili Fest in February, school competitions, slams in Sandwich and the Cultural Center in South Yarmouth. Don’t give up, don’t put up and do Poet Up! Thanks to a great group and to the ARTS FOUNDATION OF CAPE COD for sponsoring this workshop with Christine Rathbun Ernst.
