birds & words: a 1-day poetry and birding workshop

Bird as subject; bird as metaphor; bird as inspirational curiosity; birds as lore. In this workshop, we will be welcoming all ways of engaging with birds through poetry. We will read work by poets who honor these feathered beings in a variety of ways. Work by poets like Cyrus Cassells, Don Domanski, June Jordan, Ross Gay, John Lindgren, and Myronn Hardy will serve as a backdrop for our own writing as we explore the many ways that birds motivate us towards creativity. This will be a generative workshop. We will focus our time on prompt-based writing, with opportunities for sharing, if you are so inclined.

To augment our time inside, we will also spend time outside gathering inspiration and information from whatever year-round and migrant birds we’re able to find. All levels of bird intrigue and indifference are welcome here. There is no prior knowledge of bird life necessary for this workshop, but please feel free to bring your favorite bird fact, species, or experience with you. We will spend a brief amount of time covering the bird species we are likely to see on our walk. Other suggested, but NOT required, items to bring beyond whatever best facilitates your writing: comfortable shoes (we will NOT be walking far!); a bird field guide; a bird ID app, like Merlin ID. 

$90 for Members of Maine Audubon or MWPA/$135 Nonmembers