Evanston Public Library
Church & Orrington
1:30-4:30 — Room 108
Past leaders and readers and all poets welcome. Drop in, have poems critiqued, and participate in an ongoing discussion of poetry and poetics. Sessions are free* and no registration is required.
Leader: Michael Meyerhofer
Michael Meyerhofer’s second book, Blue Collar Eulogies, was published by Steel Toe Books. His first, Leaving Iowa, won the Liam Rector First Book Award. He has also published four chapbooks. His recent honors include the Marjorie J. Wilson Poetry Award, the James Wright Poetry Award, the Laureate Prize, and the Annie Finch Prize. For more information and sample poems, please visit www.troublewithhammers.com.
Michael’s topic: Even in contemporary free verse, scansion can be a simple, quick way to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of a line by comparing the number of stressed versus unstressed syllables, a kind of diagnostic EKG machine for poetry. We’ll discuss some basic strategies for packing more punch into each line of verse.
Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued.
*$5-$10 donation appreciated
This project has been partially supported by a grants from Poets & Writers and the Illinois Arts Council.
Open Mike 6:00 – 6:30