We might think of poems as concise, but what about "compressed"? In lyric poetry, compression describes verse in which image and language are tightly bound with meaning and expressed with precision and economy. Poems with great compression need not be short, but they are always crisp and dense with potential for emotion and meaning.

In this workshop, we'll be guided by the work of the great American poet Jean Valentine (1934–2020); examples will be provided ahead of time. Ideas we'll explore may include: the said and the unsaid; the role of silence and/or mystery in our poetry; openness to multiple meanings; and editing's role in concision and compression.

Open to all interested writers. Participants are invited (but not required) to workshop a poem or excerpt of a longer work in which compression is a goal. The instructor will be in touch to arrange.

Please note: Full refund up to 7 days before the workshop. Fifty percent refund in the last week.

Compression in Poetry