The Archaeology of Poetry: Digging the Moment with t’ai freedom ford

Six Wednesdays, October 10–November 14

By definition, archaeology is the study of human history through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. By definition, poetry is a similar pursuit: poets excavate sites (and sights), unearth and examine artifacts in an attempt to understand humanity. In this way, participants will consider memories, photographs and personal geographies as artifact in order to get at a specific moment in time. By digging beyond the surface and examining these moments, one can begin to make sense of both personal and public histories. We will of course look to fellow poet-archaeologists like Seamus Heaney, Tracy K. Smith, Kevin Young, Lucile Clifton and others for inspiration and conversation around the writing/digging process.

Class Dates:
Wednesday, October 10, 6–8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 17, 6–8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 24, 6–8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 31, 6–8:30 PM
Wednesday, November 7, 6–8:30 PM
Wednesday, November 14, 6–8:30 PM

t’ai freedom ford is a New York City high school English teacher and Cave Canem fellow. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in The African American Review, Apogee, Bomb Magazine, Calyx, Drunken Boat, Electric Literature, Gulf Coast, Kweli, Tin House, Obsidian, Poetry and others. Her work has also been featured in several anthologies including The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop and Nepantla: An Anthology Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color. Winner of the 2015 To the Lighthouse Poetry Prize, her first poetry collection, how to get over is available from Red Hen Press. Her second poetry collection, & more black, is forthcoming Spring 2019 from Brooklyn Arts Press. t’ai lives and loves in Brooklyn where she is an editor at No, Dear Magazine.