Part of the Tacoma Arts Month celebration, the inaugural Tacoma Poetry Fest happens Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th at the Tacoma Public Utilities Building Auditorium.

Headliner David Wagoner and the former Poets Laureate of Tacoma will read Friday night and Saturday features several workshops. (See: http://thetacomapoetryfestival.com/classes-and-workshops/)

One such workshop:

3:15 – 4:45 Session

Personal Myth, Place, Genius Loci – Paul Nelson

What is the myth you are living? Your Personal Mythology, relationship to place and to the spirit of the place in which you live are components of a healthy foundation for poets interested in preparing themselves to respond as deeply as possible to the chaos of our time. Ezra Pound said: “More poets fail from lack of character than lack of talent” and ninety minutes should be enough to dip a pen into the deep waters of self, place and myth.

Writing exercises, some example poems and discussion will be featured and participants will be given resources to continue their own journey into the realm of deep self. Examples will be drawn from Make It True: Poetry From Cascadia and other sources.