Even as we take our first steps away from our mothers, we are forever tethered to them. This tether can feel like an anchor that secures us to a warm sense of belonging or a restraint that prevents us from the fullest expression of our being. Whether the word “mother” sparks bitter or sweet associations, the imprint of this relationship indelibly shapes our identity. As we transition into adulthood, we witness the echoes of our mothers in our thoughts, words, and actions.
In this generative Mother’s Day themed workshop, participants will examine a thematically diverse range of published poetry about mothers, mother figures, and the experience of mothering others. All experience levels and genres are welcome to join us as we draft new work in the welcoming community of Grackle and Grackle. Everyone will leave with several drafts and ideas for future writing sessions. We look forward to your attendance this May at Grackle and Grackle!
Lauren Berry received a BA in Creative Writing from Florida State University and an MFA from the University of Houston where she won the Inprint Verlaine Prize and served as poetry editor for Gulf Coast. From 2009 to 2010, she held the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellowship at the Wisconsin Institute. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Agni, Silk Road, The Adroit Journal, Denver Quarterly, and Iron Horse Literary Review. Terrance Hayes selected her first collection, The Lifting Dress (Penguin, 2011), to win the National Poetry Series prize. Her second collection, The Rented Altar, won the C&R Press Award in poetry (C&R Press, 2020. She teaches AP English Literature at YES Prep Public Schools, a charter school that provides college preparatory education to Houston’s most underserved communities. Connect with her at poetlaurenberry.com.