THE POETRY CLASS – 2026 EDITION
WINTER 2026
June 27th to July 18th, 2026
Four sessions, four collections
A four-session version of the ever-popular Look Fively! where each class is based around a random new(ish) poetry collection from my bookshelves. We’ll look at five or six poems from each book, do a close reading on one, and then two writing exercises based on the poems. There may be collections you’ve never heard of, or collections that everyone is talking about, or something in between. Or all three!
An opportunity to take a guided tour of four contemporary poetry collections, with the option of either a Sunday morning in-person, or a Saturday morning online class.
A combination of close reading and writing exercises, suitable for all levels.
Saturdays, 27 June to 18 July
10 am to 1 pm
Online via Zoom
OR
Sundays, 28 June to 19 July
10 am to 1 pm
WEA Hall
59 Gloucester St, Christchurch
Fee: $40
July 26th, 2026
R4W: Best American Poetry 2025
A single-session Reading for Writing class where we will discuss six poems from the O.G. of national poetry anthologies, Best American Poems 2025, this final edition selected by guest editor Terence Winch. What was exciting poets in the USA this year? Who made the cut? And what constitutes “best”, anyway?
A mixture of close reading, and writing exercises.
Suitable for all levels.
Sunday 26th July 2026
10 am to 1 pm
WEA Hall
59 Gloucester St, Christchurch
Fee: $15
August 2nd, 2026
R4W: The Forward Book of Poetry 2026
A single-session Reading for Writing class where we will discuss six poems from the other side of the Atlantic; The Forward Book of Poetry 2026. Selected this year by judges Lisa Kelly, Hannah Lavery, Sean O’Brien and Rommi Smith from the contenders for the Forward Prizes for Poetry. Is there a typical “British” poem? What subjects were on peoples’ minds? And would we have called these poems “the best”?
A mixture of close reading, and writing exercises.
Suitable for all levels.
Sunday 26th July 2026
10 am to 1 pm
WEA Hall
59 Gloucester St, Christchurch
Fee: $15
July 26th, 2026
R4W: Best Canadian Poetry 2026
A single-session Reading for Writing class where we will discuss six poems from the dark horse, Best Canadian Poems, this year selected by Aislinn Hunter. How does Canadian poetry compare to the writing here in Aotearoa New Zealand? What subjects, voices, styles do we have in common, and is there anything that marks Canadian poetry as “different”?
A mixture of close reading, and writing exercises.
Suitable for all levels.
Sunday 9th August 2026
10 am to 1 pm
WEA Hall
59 Gloucester St, Christchurch
Fee: $15
To enrol, or to ask a questions about the courses, please head across to Current Classes and use the form to sign up.
What you’ve missed so far in 2026 …
April 1st to 30th, 2026
NZNaPoWriMo – thirty poems in thirty days
Yes, once again The Poetry Class is hosting the annual challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April: NaPoWriMo!
NaPoWriMo is a (mostly online) writing challenge, to celebrate April being National Poetry Month in the USA. Every April, people from all over the world set themselves the challenge of writing a poem every day for thirty days. How hard could it be?
I will provide a new writing prompt every day throughout April, as well as a closed community where you can post your poems in response, comment on other people’s work, or complain about how mean I am. To be clear: you won’t be getting feedback or critique from me. But you will find yourself challenged, stretched, supported, perplexed, and pushed on to write even when you think you can’t. You can be as involved or uninvolved in the community aspect as you like – everyone finds their own way to make this challenge the monstrous, magnificent, manic, monumental monolith that it is.
Cost: $10
Venue: online via WordPress
Duration: every day during April 2026
A Dark Feathered Art 