This Bridge Across – An Online Poetry Workshop with E.A. Greenwell

Is the registration fee an obstacle for you to attend this workshop? Fishtrap offers a limited number of scholarships to help with the cost. Contact Program Director Mike Midlo for more information.

In our ever-evolving world, where ecological and political climates challenge our sense of connection and unity with others and within ourselves, poetry becomes a powerful medium for building bridges—bridges that span not only physical landscapes but also the emotional and metaphysical realms within us. Join us for a transformative poetry workshop inspired by the compelling poem:

“This Bridge Across,” by lifelong poet and psychologist, Christopher Gilbert.

About the Workshop:

In spring, as the days grow long again, we will explore in our immersive workshop the works of Christopher Gilbert and renowned poets, delving into the rich tapestries of their poetry. We will use their words as stepping stones to understanding how poetry can serve as a means to connect with ourselves and others in this challenging era.

Our journey will be complemented by a selection of inspiring poems that touch upon themes of connection, identity, and shared human experience. Through close reading and thoughtful discussion, we will uncover the techniques and nuances that make these poems resonate so deeply.

The heart of this workshop lies in the creative process. Participants will have the opportunity to draft their own poems, drawing from the inspiration provided by Gilbert’s work and the broader poetic landscape. You will be encouraged to explore the metaphorical bridges that connect us to our inner selves, to others, and to the world around us.

Workshop Highlights:

• Explorations of poems by renowned poets that highlight themes of connection and unity.
• Guided discussions to unravel the power of poetic language in conveying complex emotions and ideas.
• Writing exercises and prompts designed to help you craft your own bridge-building poems.
• Constructive feedback and peer review to refine your poetic voice.
• Opportunities for sharing your work and fostering a sense of community.
• Discovering how words can be a powerful instrument for change, fostering connection and empathy in our world.

No prior poetry experience is necessary—just an open heart and a willingness to explore the depths of poetic expression. Come and be part of a community that believes in the transformative power of words.

Let your poetry become the bridge that connects you to yourself and others. Together, we will build bridges that reach across the divides of our time. Secure your spot today.

A . Greenwell is a Senior Connectivity Specialist for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and Program Manager of Writing at the Centrum Foundation in Port Townsend, Washington. He has supported or led successful efforts to protect wildlife habitat, farms and ranches, establish community forests, restore Indigenous access to homelands, and facilitate formal land-management partnerships between tribes, federal and state agencies, counties, and non-government organizations. A former PEN/Northwest Wilderness Writing Resident, his writing has appeared in Boston Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, and Terrain.org’s Letter to America Series among other periodicals and publications. He lives in Milltown, MT with his partner, Belinda, and a redbone hound, Frankenstein.