There Is Nothing New Under the Sun: Unlocking Poetry, One Line at a Time

There is Nothing New Under the Sun: Unlocking Poetry, One Line at a Time

Program Description:
When it comes to poetry it can be like peanut butter, you either love it or hate it. Most of us grew up being forced to read poetry at high school. For some people analyzing a poem is akin to analyzing a computer programming code. In this class, I will use my published work to show how poetry invites us to look beyond the surface of the words and into the heart of their meaning. As with any art form, there are multiple ways to interpret a poem. To begin with, your initial feelings when reading a poem provide a very important step to analyzing a creative work. What in that literary work makes you feel that way? Is there a word, a phrase, a metaphor that comes alive for you? Once you start to discuss your reaction to a poem, you find it's not so intimidating after all.

Presenter Bio:
Originally from Derry, Northern Ireland, Terry Boyle now resides in Coachella Valley in California. After leaving his hometown in 2004, Terry took up a teaching position at Loyola University, Chicago where he taught Irish and British literature. In 2011, his play, 'Oh what a bloody good Friday!' reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Eugene O'Neill competition. Since 2011, Terry has had plays produced in Chicago, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. In 2021, his poem, A New Economy, was selected to be included in the compilation of 'The Best of New British and Irish Poets 2019-2021 (Black Spring Press). His collection of poetry, 'Angels and Empty Spaces, was published in 2022 by The Black Spring Press Group, London. Terry is also a regular columnist for the Irish American News in Chicago and Irish in Ohio. You can listen to a selection of Terry's poems on his YouTube channel. 

This is a Learning in Retirement (LIR) program.  To learn more about LIR, click on the image below.