Poetry I

Within one poem, even within one line, poets create meaningful simultaneity—using image, metaphor, music, sound, syntax, lineation, structure, and an engagement with the unsaid. Whether you're a beginning poet or a lover of the art, this class will engage with that simultaneity, focusing each week on a specific element of poetic craft. Some examples of poets we will study: Ellen Bass, Tarfia Faizullah, Terrance Hayes, Solmaz Sharif, Ai, Larry Levis, and Jane Wong. The course is asynchronous; you can work on your own schedule. 

What to Expect from an Asynchronous Class with Hugo House:

Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!

During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You'll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!

While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you!

Registration dates:

December 5: Scholarship Donation Day (Learn more.)

December 6: Member registration opens

December 13: General registration opens

Michelle Peñaloza

Michelle Peñaloza is the author of Former Possessions of the Spanish Empire, winner of the 2018 Hillary Gravendyk National Poetry Prize (Inlandia Books, 2019). She is also the author of two chapbooks, landscape/heartbreak (Two Sylvias, 2015), and Last Night I Dreamt of Volcanoes (Organic Weapon Arts, 2015). The recipient of fellowships and awards from the University of Oregon and Kundiman, Michelle has also received support from Lemon Tree House, Caldera, 4Culture, Literary Arts, VONA/Voices, and the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, among others. The proud daughter of Filipino immigrants, Michelle was born in the suburbs of Detroit, MI and raised in Nashville, TN. She now lives in rural Northern California.