Life as Rehearsal for the Poem and Poetics as Cosmology 2026 Workshops

A five week online (Zoom) workshop best suited for continuing participants and more experienced poets (open to open form) in workshops facilitated by Cascadia Poetics Lab and Poetry Postcard Fest Co-Founder Paul E Nelson. Participate in reading and discussion of foundational essays, interviews, listening and other assignments, as well as spontaneous poetry composition exercises. In Winter 2026,  we’ll explore a short history of Projective/Outside North America Poetry, focused on:

1. George Bowering
2. Fred Wah
3. Daphne Marlatt
4. Michael McClure
5. Mary Norbert Kõrte
6. John Olson
7. Phyllis Webb
8. Stephen Collis
9. Sharon Thesen
10. Barry McKinnon
11. Cedar Sigo
12. George Stanley
13. Robin Blaser
14. Gary Snyder

and related texts and assignments. How can one’s poetics be a cosmology and how can one maintain some experience of the Poetry Postcard Fest, & allow one’s life as a creative participant in the world to rise in one’s personal hierarchy of duties/activities? How is the projective poem an antidote to Silicon Valley attention fracking? An alternative to A.I. Slop? Will you let the machines do your thinking?

$250 for each five week session per person, scholarships are available. Canadians in need can pay $250 CAD. 

Life as Rehearsal for the Poem (LARFP)

• Sundays, 3-5PM, PACIFIC
• March 29, April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2026

Poetics as Cosmology (PAC)

• Thursdays, 3-5PM, PACIFIC
• March 26, April 2, 9, 16, and 23

Also, these essays on Poetics are helpful for beginning and advanced students. The courses are essentially the same.