Lehigh Valley Poetry hosts a monthly virtual salon and open mic on the first Monday of the month at 8:30 PM. (EST) Prior to the open mic, we host a “mini workshop” from 8:00- 8:30. This has been running as an added session since the pandemic started, facilitated by E. Lynn Alexander, unless there is a guest facilitator. We usually post the events on the Lehigh Valley Poetry facebook page (“events”) and the link and updates in the event discussion. We also post reminders on our Instagram page.
The monthly mini workshop is meant to be a quick prompt, exercise, introduction to a form, etc. that participants can use later on. Some participants share the draft, as we typically plan for about ten minutes of writing and practice. After a few shares and reflection, we transition quickly into the open mic portion of the evening. Please feel free to reach out to Lynn (elynnalexander@gmail.com) with any questions or accommodation needs. The topics are posted ahead for those who prefer to view here on the website and follow along.
Monthly Mini: October 2022 Going Back: Another Place, Time, Self
We have had sessions where we reflected on the past and who we were, and we will once again turn to memory to explore time and place. I came across a workshop topic I loved, where the words of writer Toni Morrison were part of the exercise. In it, she describes what happens when people change the course of a river for development or other reasons and the way that these areas are often prone to flooding. She describes the water as having memory, “forever trying to get back to where it was.”
Think about a significant place in your life before a change. It could be a childhood home, vacation spot, summer camp, a neighborhood. It could be a relative’s home that you used to visit.
Think about the person you were then, and who you are now. Think about revisiting this place as your current self and what you might observe about it.
Think about the place and what you remember. If you can, think about something that you didn’t realize at the time that you now know about the setting.
Try to write a few lines about it. Focus on the memory and setting, and the flow of words. It is not important to craft a poem or “piece” around it at this time. The idea is to think about a setting and how our memory can be impacted by what we learn, compared to our thoughts at that time.
