Close Readings in a Virtual Space

CLOSE READINGS IN A VIRTUAL SPACE was a series of participatory “thinking-and-reading-through” virtual workshops launched during the pandemic.

We lined up some of our favorite poets to lead intimate, virtual group explorations of (mostly) single poems.

The poets—neither teaching nor explaining—served as expert tour-guides for participants to explore the featured poem as a group. Whether participants were already well-versed in the close reading of poems, or had never been quite sure they’d been "getting it," CLOSE READINGS IN A VIRTUAL SPACE provided a friendly gathering space for everyone to take a refreshing deep dive into a single poem.

Each event lasted about an hour, and concluded with a brief reading of poetry by the special guest poet. The series may resume in the future.