We Are All Poets of Witness with Joanne Godley
Sat, Nov 07
|Virtual on zoom
Participants will explore how poetry can respond to real events, honor lived experience, and give shape to what must be remembered. Writers will leave with new insight into documentary poetry and fresh material of their own.
Time & Location
Nov 07, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM CST
Virtual on zoom
About the Event
Documentary poetry or docupoetry (as it is called) has no specific definition other than it is poetic writing that draws from the real world or from documents of real witnesses to a series of events. It is a case study of people, events, and places. There is always some research involved—especially if the testimony of witnesses is to be incorporated into the poetry.
The work includes both the perspectives of witnesses and of that of the writer. It is an attempt to give voice to the marginalized and oppressed.
We will look closely at specific works by three poets, Patricia Smith (Blood Dazzler), CD Wright (One Big Self),and Layli Long Soldier (Whereas). If there is time, we shall consider Muriel Rukeyser’s Book of the Dead as this text is often quoted when the topic of docupoetics arises.
We will consider which issues/events each of these…
Tickets
We Are All Poets of Witness
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83815693734?pwd=EMZkwZOR218saec7HACa0kxuqyjUIx.1 Meeting ID: 838 1569 3734 Passcode: 108104
$40.00
+$1.00 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00