Inkwell May Workshop with Jami Macarty

“Repetition in word and phrase and in idea is the very essence of poetry,” American poet Theodore Roethke writes in “Some Remarks on Rhythm” (1960). Repetition in poetry connects to our deepest human experiences—the heart pumping blood, the seasons tilting Earth.

Repetition is part of daily life. Think of brushing your teeth, walking the dog, welcoming spring’s daffodils. Repetition is part of a writing practice. Think of recurrence and accumulation. Think of returning memories, magic spells, children’s lullabies, and family stories.

Using material/drafts already written in their notebooks/journals, participants in this generative workshop will experiment with the mnemonic and musical qualities, as well as the structural and driving forces of repetition. We will learn some devices of repetition in free verse (anaphora, epiphora, polyptoton, anadiplosis)—the Greek terms are easier to pronounce than you may think!—and explore through writing/revising how repetition builds tension, creates music, and shifts meanings, whether toward the obsessive or the enchanting.

To our maker-space, bring an already-filled notebook, a new notebook, and pens full of ink!