Lift Off

A poetry workshop for people who don’t think they are poets

This is a joyful and productive workshop for anyone who wants to dive into the mysterious ocean called poetry.

It’s especially designed for folks who feel awkward about the idea of poetry. It’s designed for folks who don’t think they “get” poetry. It’s designed or folks who think that maybe poetry is a party they weren’t invited to.

We’ll tear down the walls of what we think a poem is and rebuild them in whatever way we want, building self-trust, delight and discovery into every step.

Here’s how it works:

We’ll meet six times. Each time we’ll look at a different “function” of poetry (to delight, to pause, to rage, etc.) We’ll explore ways poets have filled this function and we’ll jump off from those voices to create our own poems.

We’ll also write poems for people, using real-life poem requests to inspire new work.

There will be lots of room for experimentation, laughter, tears and joyful nonsense. There will also be homework, so come prepared to work between sessions… But there’s never any shame if you don’t get your homework done.

“If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know it is poetry.”
— Emily Dickenson

    • Are curious, but not totally convinced that poetry has a place for them.

    • Struggle to make time for creativity in the bustle of daily life.

    • Love the idea of a weekly creative date with a small group of others.

    • Feel ready (though maybe a little scared) to share their writing.

    • Enjoy experimentation.

    • Are interested in exploring their own lives as writing material and sharing some of what comes up. (We tend to get a little personal).

    • Thrive in small, cozy groups (this class will never have more than 8 participants).

    • Feel aligned with our fundamental beliefs.

    • Lots of poems written by you!

    • New favourite poets, both from out in the world, and from around the workshop table.

    • A renewed sense of your writing voice and your unique gifts as a writer.

    • Writing peers whose work you are invested in.

    • A feeling of creative playfulness and possibility.

    • Creative courage.

    • Critique or competition. We’re all about the love.

    • Strict rules on “how to write poems”. We’ll work on developing your writing skills but we don’t subscribe to the idea that there’s one way to create powerful work.

    • Pressure to write things you don’t want to write. We go where the joy is.

    • A lot of instruction on poetry “forms.” We’ll play with some forms like villanelles and haiku, but the focus of this workshop is on the spirit of poetry, not the rules.

Details for Spring 2025:

On Zoom with Mari (she/her)

6 Tuesday mornings, weekly
10am - 12:30pm ET
April 22 - June 3 (no class May 13)

Cost:

The fee for this 6-session workshop is $495. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $123.75. Tax will be added for Canadians in your local provincial rate. See our financial policies.

Four times a year, we give out bursaries for our programs to people with financial barriers. Check out our upcoming dates.

If you don’t have a credit card, let us know and we’ll gladly find a way to make it work.

Sign up here:

What clients are saying…

  • Headshot of Denise

    Firefly has brought back a creative spark into my life that I didn’t realize was so badly missing. This course helped me rediscover the joy of writing and helped me develop my writing life. The community aspect was incredible. Every part of Firefly is thoughtful and purposeful. It is an oasis of goodness and beauty in a complicated world.

    Denise Handlarski
    Rabbi, Professor & Mom

  • Headshot of Nadja

    I adored this poetry workshop. It far exceeded my expectations. I was inspired, challenged, motivated and encouraged. I loved all the beautiful extras – the delicious cookies, the tiny take-home envelopes with poems, the never-ending pots of tea, the handfuls of cut-out words for poetry-making. And I was so amazed by all my fellow writers in the group for sharing their intimate and amazing words. I felt accountable to them to strive to be my best self.

Item 1 of 2