It can be tempting to think of rhythm, meter, or form as a container, something outside and separate from a poem. But the best poems sing with rhythms that move them as innately and mysteriously as waves work the water. Whether or not you’ve written in meter before, these powerful rhythms are there in your poems already.

In this one-week intensive course, we will trace the patterns that already move through your lines, whether in free verse or form, and unpack the dynamics of the energies they carry. By working the beat, you will have the chance to explore and connect with the deepest structures driving your poems. You will discover voices you never knew you had—and a sure and instinctive path to fresh and exciting revisions. Following the course, each student will receive an email talking about the strengths of their work, with ideas about moving forward.

Recommended reading: A Poet’s Craft by Annie Finch