THE HEARTBEAT OF THE LINE: AN EXPLORATION OF THE POWER IN SONNETS

Traditional forms can influence poetry in ways that affect us physiologically. By subtly influencing our breathing, a poem can regulate our heartbeat and develop a musicality that deepens its meaning. By observing how a sonnet’s form complements its subject, Jake’s presentation will guide participants through the nuances of metric poetry and discuss how it can enrich one’s writing, regardless of form. By writing an American sonnet (which has no strict rules), we will use the advice from Mary Oliver’s Rules of the Dance and consider how it can influence our own writing.   

About the Presenter

Jake Lawson is a graduate student at ETSU, co-editor-in-chief for The Mockingbird, and a carpenter from Mooresburg, TN. He is a writer of both poetry and fiction, and his recent work focuses on the threatened and endangered bird species of East Tennessee. His work has been featured in Evoxe magazine for the Arts, Town Creek Poetry, Appalachian Places, and Tennessee Voices.

MEETING INFORMATION

This program will be presented during our upcoming PST member meeting, to be held (date and time) via Zoom. Members will be provided a link a few days prior. If you are interested in learning more about PST, check out our website. If you’d like to attend our meeting as a guest, contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.