Writing and Reading Poems

Assignments

This section features the course assignments, the majority of which are of two types: responses to poems and imitations of poems. There is also a selection of student work, courtesy of the authors and used here with permission.

WEEK #	TOPICS	ASSIGNMENTS
1	Introduction
2	Favorite Poems	Bring copies for all of a favorite poem to class with copies of a one-page explanation of why the poem is one of your favorites. You will read poem and explanation in class. Bring a single copy for the professor of a letter detailing your experience with and interest in poetry.
3	Charles Olson’s Poem	Write a one-page response to Olson’s poem.
4	Olson Imitations	You are free in terms of length, but you must imitate Olson’s collage form and his subject matter, the nature of change.
5	Robert Creeley’s Poems	Write a one-page response to one or more of Creeley’s poems.
6	Creeley Imitations	You may write more than one poem but you must imitate Creeley’s use of speech. To do the latter turn your ear to language as you and those around you use it. Student Work Creeley Imitation by Lauren Tashima (PDF)
7	Barbara Guest’s Poems	Write a one-page response to one or more of Guest’s poems.
8	Guest Imitations	Guest’s language is more abstract than either Olson or Creeley’s. It is this quality you must try to imitate. Student Work Guest imitation by C. Kiersten Pollard (PDF)
9	James Schuyler’s Poem and Letter	Write a one-page response to Schuyler’s poem and letter.
10	Schuyler Imitations	Schuyler’s “February” is a view poem. You may do as he does and look out a window but be bold. There are many other possible views.
11	Frank O’Hara Poems	Write a one-page response to one or more of O’Hara’s poems. Student Work O’Hara Response by Megan Sherkow (PDF)
12	O’Hara Imitations	O’Hara called this sort of poem “I do this, I do that.” Drawing on your own experience imitate O’Hara’s use of narrative. Student Work O’Hara Imitation by Lauren Tashima (PDF) O’Hara Imitation by Megan Sherkow (PDF)
13	Philip Whalen’s Poems	Write a one-page response to one or more of Whalen’s poems. Student Work Whalen Response by Megan Sherkow(PDF)
14	Whalen Imitations	Whalen’s poems, all of which are dated at the end, read like diaries in which he lets his mind, and the poem, skip from subject to subject. This is the technique and spirit that you should imitate. Student Work Whalen imitation by C. Kiersten Pollard (PDF) Whalen imitations by Megan Sherkow (PDF)
15	Your Own Poems