Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression.
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Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression. |
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University of Mass., Boston - June 16-26, 2008 I am writing to urge you to take part in our writing workshop (June 16-26, 2008 ) at the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences at the University of Mass., Boston. This past summer the workshop celebrated 20 years of existence. Held the last two weeks of June, the workshop reflected yet again the values and vision of the Center, which was founded in the wake of the American War in Vietnam. It was appropriate that Sam Hamill, founder of Poets Against War, gave the opening remarks. Sam organized what will go down in history as an unparalleled global response of writers to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He expressed the ideas that have guided the writing workshop since its inception: that craft and commitment go hand in hand. As we face current world conflicts--and our own personal writing journeys--we have a powerful tradition to build on. Our workshop faculty have produced some of the most significant literature to emerge from the Vietnam experience as well as other areas afflicted by war. These include poets/ veterans Bruce Weigl and novelist Larry Heinemann; non-fiction writer Lady Borton (who has lived for 35 years in Vietnam); poet Fred Marchant was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps as an conscientious objector; poet/translator Martha Collins, who has been teaching a translation class, which has focused on works in Vietnamese. Novelist Demetria Martinez once faced a potential 25 years in prison for writing about Americans aiding Central American refugees. Poet MacDara Woods brings a perspective to teaching shaped by his experiences of living through "the troubles" in Ireland. One of the high points of the writing workshop is always a visit by Vietnamese writers--their participation in Martha's class, and in panels. Bruce Weigl, Lady Borton and myself also work on translations as part of the Center's commitment to build bridges with our former "enemies." This year we had a first-ever panel of veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq War--moderated by Vietnam veteran Larry Heinemann. As for the 2008 workshop, we very much anticipate participation by poet Afaa Michael Weaver. Visiting faculty this year were: Martin Espada, Robert Nichols, E. Ethelbert Miller, Taylor Stoehar, Lloyd Schwartz, Daisy Zamora, George Evans, Nguyen Quyen and Alex Vernon, an author and veteran of the first Gulf War. We were extraordinarily blessed to have Grace Paley, who recently passed away, with us. Joiner Center fellows this year were Nigerian Nduka Otiono, Maryana Savka of Ukraine and Gearoid Mac Lochlainn of Belfast. In 2008 we will host fellows from Israel and the Palestinian camps in Lebanon. In short, the William Joiner Center and our annual workshop are both a hub and a sanctuary for writers coming from all over the world: people who have fought in wars, protested wars; and all who have survived to bear witness. This letter is an invitation for you to consider being part of the workshop community in 2008. First let me stress that students write about a variety of topics. We do not in any way wish to limit what anyone writes: We are open to the surprises that writing produces, and how that helps us to grow as individuals who, as Grace Paley always said, can be "useful" in a troubled world. ---- To apply, send a letter of interest (the sooner the better) with a writing sample. Include an indication of what genre you wish to work in. Address applications and inquiries about the workshop to T. Michael Sullivan, William Joiner Center, University of Massachusetts. Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125-3393. You can contact him at Michael.Sullivan@umb.edu or at 617-287-5850. - --Last summer we managed, as always, to keep costs relatively low: $400 for two weeks, $220 for one week. We will not know the precise tuition until the spring but we will, again, try to keep tuition as low as we can. And please forward this letter. We want to spread the word in anticipation of the twenty-first annual writers' workshop. Thank you for your interest,
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