The Possibilities of the Prose Poem

The Possibilities of the Prose Poem (starting at $79)

What possibilities emerge when we move away from lineated verse? How do we write our way into this form, or determine if what we’ve just written would be best served in a prose block (or two)? What possibilities for innovation emerge, whether it be surrealism, humor, or other? What leaps and bounds can still be made without the “verticality” of verse?

We will read and discuss prose poems by Rick Barot, Victoria Chang, Robert Hass, Richard Siken, and others as inspiration for our own work.

Session I will include a short craft lecture, reading & discussion of exemplar poems, and free writing from prompts. Session II will begin with review and a generative exercise, and continue with group workshopping of our drafts from Session I.

You are welcome to attend one or both sessions.

Angela Siew is a multilingual poet with an MFA from Emerson College. She has received support from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, and the City of Boston. Her chapbook, "Coming Home," was awarded a 2025 Connecticut Artist Fellowship Grant and is available from Cut Bank: https://angelasiew.com/books/