The Poetry of Protest
Poets write about many beautiful things–the moon, trees, love, a garden–but life is more than beautiful things. Life–and poetry–are more complex and offer poets a great opportunity to witness and express that complexity. Bearing witness to wars, social and economic injustices, environmental ravages, civil rights, and other issues has challenged the best of our poets who have responded with the poetry of protest. We’ll look at many of these poems and come to understand that the poetry of protest does not have to be strident. Well-chosen words, images and irony–even humor–are effective, too, as in the work of poets like Langston Hughes, Adrienne Rich, Anne Waldman, Allen Ginsberg, Gwendolyn Brooks, Benjamin Saenz, and many others. In this series, we’ll also explore the issues–large or small, global or personal–that matter to you and how to transform the material of those issues into powerful, fervent, and affecting poems. Poets at all levels are welcome. Bring your pen, paper, and passion.