Re-Memory Poetry Writing Workshop with Sherese Francis Part 1

“Re-Memory Poetry Writing Workshop (from Mmiri and Mirrors Collective Writing Workshop Series) Register here: here.

What do we choose to remember and what chooses us to be remembered? Memory is something we often cannot control; it is usually what happens to bubble up out of the collection of what we have received in our own personal archives of living. During this Women’s History Month, we will read works from Black women poets like Roya Marsh, M. Nourbese Philip, Akilah Oliver, Lucille Clifton, Audre Lorde, T’ai Freedom Ford, Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander to reflect on and discuss the concept of memory, how what is remembered shapes the work of these poets and the personal, cultural and historical connections that are formed through remembering, especially through a woman’s body. After the discussion of each poem, participants will write responses to prompts inspired by them.

Session 1: Poetic Archeology
Poets like T’ai Freedom Ford and Joshua Bennett have talked about how poetry is a form of archeology, that it has “sites of excavation” in which we can dig into ourselves for truths we or others may have hidden from us and to understand our own humanity. In this session, we will read poems from Roya Marsh, M. Nourbese Phillip and T’ai Freedom Ford, to write pieces in which we look at aspects of our lives as “artifacts” for deeper poetic investigation.

PHOTO: Gladys Weaver (nee Simpkins) poses with her son, Lester, and her cousin Mamie. Gladys married John Weaver in 1947 and gave birth to their son, Lester, in 1951. The couple moved into the Merrick Park Garden co-op apartments soon after.

Date

Mar 12 2022
Expired!

Time

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location

Zoom (QPL account)
Category