Drunk Poets Society Public Class

About the Class

While no one ever wrote anything of value while drunk, it is true that many of the writers we value have had problems with alcohol or drug addiction. I am personally not an alcoholic. I do recognize that alcoholism is a disease that causes many problems, but the connection is certainly statistically valid.

I am using the alcoholism/poetry connection only as a means of entering a larger discussion of the nature and uses of poetry. My method of inquiry is purely metaphorical and unscientific.

1. It begins with the Serenity Prayer
Drunk poets society
Alcoholics Anonymous and the upside down pyramid
Poetry as an addiction
No self esteem vs. low self esteem
Heightened emotions

2. Why the Alcohol/poetry connection
Escape
Access
Re-configuration and Ambiguity

3. My poem Sometime
Why we don’t value ambiguity
Why ambiguity is important

Language of instruction: English

Keywords: poetry