Healing: it can be through a lyrical hymn, a quiet ghazal or free verse—all of which with gentleness and curiosity cool the soil of the mind, body and soul. The heart is a tenant that often hurries the body unless we intentionally slow it down with love and with peace. In this weekly drop-in class, we’ll take a look at poems that illustrate and embody healing. We’ll plant and water some of our own poems through generative prompts, making use of form and white space. We’ll meditate on the small and tangible while exploring larger fundamental elements of healing. We’ll examine the power of words on a page, be it a haiku or villanelle, that transform the states within—seeking out poems that live from the inside out. Some poets that may be contemplated include: Frank O’ Hara, Ross Gay, Etel Adnan, Rita Dove, Marie Howe, Pablo Neruda and more. Sharing will be encouraged but optional. (Note that drop-in classes are not a forum for critique of work; students looking for critique should register for multi-week workshops.)
Drop-In Details
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Ramya Ramana is an award-winning American author, poet, lyricist and writer. She was born, raised and currently resides in New York. Ramana won the NY Knicks Poetry Slam, which awarded her a full tuition scholarship to St. John’s University. Soon after, she became the Youth Poet Laureate of NYC. She has since performed at events such as the US Open, Tribeca Film Festival, TV One’s “Verses and Flow,” Pharrell’s Adidas Campaign, SONY TV’s Asian Women in the Arts Awards, the Immigrant Gala, Apollo Theatre Slam Finals, Celebrate Bklyn!, the Source Magazine Festival and many more. Her work can be found on the Poetry Foundation and Academy of American Poets websites and in Seventh Wave and the Southampton Review. Ramana published her first collection of poems through Penmanship Books, which was released at Lincoln Center. In addition to performing and writing, Ramana has also worked as an educator and mentor for young poets and young women. She recently received her MFA in creative writing from the New School. Ramana is currently working as a librettist for an operetta film. Her hope is to remain a student of wonder and to explain truth sincerely through her work and her life.