Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty

So you want to be a poet?

The Penn State Young Writer’s Workshop is for you! The Summer 2010 Workshop will offer a one-week course that will acquaint you with poetry writing and reading. Want to know more? Course instructor Leah Huizar describes the course this way:

“In the course of our time together, we'll practice some key elements of poetry-making, such as concrete language, imagery, rhythm and word choice. We'll coming together to explore the unique ways that poetry works and distinguishes itself from other compelling literary and artistic forms. We'll take every opportunity to enjoy a range of poetic styles in our own writing, and in the writing of established and contemporary poets. Expect to read, write, workshop and have fun!

This poetry course also gathers for its inspiration the dynamic visual art collection at the Palmer Museum of Art on the University Park Campus. From portraits to pottery, the Palmer's many exhibits will offer our class vivid images, textures, history and narratives to explore through our work in poetry.”

One of the types of poetry you will explore is ekphrastic poetry.

Wondering what that is?

Simply put, ekphrastic poetry is poetry written in response to visual art. One famous example of ekphrastic poetry is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by John Keats.

Below is the final stanza of this timeless poem, featuring several famous lines that you may have already read:

“O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty," - that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”


We hope to see you in Summer 2010 for some fun with poetry and art!