Well, it’s kind of like a poetry workshop. But without instruction, just readings and writing prompts. Oh, and it’s through the mail, which is kind of magic.
A song I’ve been loving lately, about not being self-limiting.
The phrase "to light a candle” comes from a quote by Ursula K LeGuin, in her book ‘A Wizard of Earthsea. The full quote: “to light a candle is to cast a shadow.” I love the imagery, and the duality of it. There is also some convoluted metaphor in my head about the lit candle being a first step towards knowing, and the long shadow being the vast yet-to-know. (More on that later.)
‘To Light A Candle’, the workshop, began burning in earnest in February 2024, when it became a hyperfixation for me. The first session included words by my friend william erickson, the legendary Mary Oliver, and a local writer named Maura Doherty. I wrote 15 writing prompts, approximately 5 per poem, to accompany the readings. 5 people signed up for poetry mail! Thank you, five people!
Not long afterwards, in April, the spring session was released into the mailboxes of 5 new poets. (Thank you, five new poets!)
Some newness in spring included four pages instead of three, many more prompts, and the option to donate money (real money) for my time and effort (real time! real effort!!!) I’m endlessly grateful to those people that decided to throw some compensation my way. Still, it is my intention for the workshop to be free + only donation-based, basically forever and ever.
Spring Session included poems by the excellent Wang Yin, Adrienne Rich, Kaveh Akbar, and Margaret Atwood. Another aspect of this whole project is this: I’ve dedicated at least the year of 2024 to reading as much poetry as I can, as diversely as I can. I’m also reading other things of course, but poetry is a main focus. Before diving in to this project, I had never heard of Yin, Rich, or Akbar - and primarily knew Atwood as a novelist (as most do, I’m sure). I’m just starting out in reading poetry. Maybe you are too? Or do you remember what it felt like, to be a beginner?
So what’s next?
More poetry, that’s for sure. More prompts, definitely. New - to - me poets will be featured, and maybe they will be new to you too. More stamps, and more words on paper. More discovery, and more learning together. And maybe, at the end of the year, a more permanent collection of the workshops, that I can offer all together. What do you think?
Summer Session is tentatively scheduled for July 2024. Be sure to follow my socials for updates on ‘To Light A Candle’ as well as my other endeavors. Thank you for reading.