Afternoon Seminar

“Poetry Workshop – Poetry as Dialogue”

People say there’s nothing more daunting than starting with a blank sheet of paper. but no poet starts with a blank sheet of paper. We start with a beautiful inherited language with words already graced and enhanced with meaning. And every line of new poetry can summon up and dance with all the poetry that’s already out there. Some of the best poems are conversations with, responses to, continuations of poetry already out there. Even Shakespeare says

All my best is dressing old words new

spending again what is already spent

so in this session we will look at how some great poems inspired other poems in their turn and how some of the poetry already ‘out there’  can inspire you in your turn and give you a good starting place.

Malcolm Guite is an Anglican priest; Chaplain & Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge University; a poet; and the lead singer and founder of the rock band Mystery Train.

His books include nonfiction – Beholding the Glory and What Do Christians Believe? – and poetry – The Singing Bowl; Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany; and The Word in the Wilderness: A Poem a Day for Lent and Easter. He also contributed to The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis.

Guite teaches Literature and Pastoral Theology for the Cambridge Federation of Theological Colleges. He is involved with a number of projects linking theology and the arts, and has published poetry, literary criticism and theology in various journals. As founder of the rock band, Mystery Train, he writes lyrics and performs on guitar and vocals.