Poetry and Climate Writing – a Lunchtime Course with Jane Robinson

Course Summary

In each of the four two-hour workshops, you will discuss the effects of climate change with relation to one of the four classical elements: earth, air, fire or water. Examples of poems and short excellent prose will be provided for participants to share and discuss during each workshop. Writing prompts related to the theme of the day will be provided, and all participants are encouraged to draft new work. There will be a 15-minute lunch break (please bring your own lunchbox, tea is available at the IWC).

Course Outline

• Tuesday 5^th November: Earth-related poems, prose, physical prompts, words, new writing.
• Tuesday 12^th November: Air-related poems, prose, physical prompts, words, new writing.
• Tuesday 19^th November: Fire-related poems, prose, physical prompts, words, new writing.
• Tuesday 26^th November: Water-related poems, prose, physical prompts, words, new writing.

Participants are invited and encouraged to draft new writing during each workshop; and to edit one new poem or very short prose piece at home to share at the next week’s meeting.

Course Outcomes

You will have a new appreciation of the urgency with which we face into the gathering effects of climate change – how such changes might affect vulnerable human populations as well as many of the beautiful and diverse other-than-human beings with whom we share the earth.

Four new pieces of writing in the form of poems or very short prose. (In the case of prose, participants would be encouraged to aim for lyrical and well edited pieces of less than 300 words each.)

Jane Robinson is an award-winning Irish poet with a doctoral degree in biological science from the California Institute of Technology. Her books are: ‘Journey to the Sleeping Whale’ (2018) and ‘Island and Atoll’ (2023), both published by Salmon Poetry. Jane has taught poetry workshops in libraries and outdoor settings. In recent months she was the invited reader at Green Sod Ireland’s Biodiversity Summer School in Kylemore Abbey, and at the IMMA Earth Rising Festival. Listen here: Music for the Atoll, 2023 (SoundCloud)

Booked out? To be added to the waiting list for this course, please email info@irishwriterscentre.ie.