Poetry is a conversation begun in ancient times about what it means to be human. Mine is one small voice from one place and time joining in the conversation. In my workshops and visits to classes I try to suggest to teachers the relevance of poetry to every subject.
Poetry can deepen their students' experiences of wonder, inquiry and response.
In a culture grappling with a loss of values, poetry is vital. It can help us enter the perspective of other lives, give voice to the tangles of feeling that knot inside us and teach us not to be complacent about trite thoughts or judgments but to revise toward something more true. I have worked as a writer in the schools in hundreds of classrooms in New Jersey, Tennessee and Ohio. The Visiting Artists section of this directory provides information on former residency artists who are available for short visits to schools and educational settings. Schools and AIE residency artists are encouraged to include them in their activities.