Good poetry helps us to understand and value the important events and experiences of our lives, whether it be a casual encounter with a kind stranger, a birth or death, or a major event like 9/11. In this course, we will read a mix of memorable poets, both courseic and contemporary, and discuss the way that their insights relate to our personal concerns. Participants will also learn about the craft and techniques that poets use to construct meaningful verse, and hopefully, discover poems that they will want to read over and over again.

Instructor: Michael Bourgo is the author of twelve collections of verse and a memoir of his childhood. He has been teaching courses on how to read and enjoy poetry for OLLI since 2017. In addition, he has hosted poetry evenings for his church, co-leads the OLLI Writers SIG, and serves as poetry editor for the Foxdale Miscellany.

Course dates are May 6, 13, and 20.