What explains the enduring allure of fairy tales and their place in contemporary poetry? In this two-hour craft class and generative workshop, we will delve into the nuanced world of fairy tales in poems, revisiting a few of the best known stories in their dark originals to understand how poets have transformed this source material over time. From Grimm and Andersen to Anne Sexton, Vievee Francis, and Carol Ann Duffy, we'll navigate how age-old tales and archetypal themes have served as fertile allusions for poets, flexibly transcending their original contexts. We’ll explore how we, too, can be part of the tradition of using fairy tales to address the most bewildering, complex, menacing, and magical parts of contemporary life.

Come ready to revisit stories you know through an entirely new lens thanks to excerpts from insightful critical voices and a carefully curated selection of poems. And—more importantly—come read to write your own poems!

The two hours will be divided into craft lessons/discussions of poems + three generative exercises/sharing as a group. Enrollment limited.