The Ode and the Elegy: Writing Through Celebration and Loss

“Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so that it may be thought.”

– Audre Lorde, “Poetry is Not a Luxury”

Joshua Martin writes that “Poetry is the art of the specific. In order to write about big universal themes, you must first explore the small, seemingly unrelated details of our world.” Through examples of published poems, discussion, and in-class writing guided by a series of simple prompts, this session will offer ideas for addressing the most fundamental of human experiences, which are the most difficult to articulate. As expressions of private and public celebration and mourning—love poems, those commemorating personal or communal losses, poems of climate grief, tributes, and laments—the shaping forms of ode and elegy demonstrate how fine the line is between them, if in fact there is a line at all.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

1 .) For accessibility information please refer to the "accessibility" tab at victoriafestivalofauthors.ca.

2.) A limited number of bursaries may be available. Please contact the festival for further information ([email protected]).

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