The Long Poem Workshop

In this workshop participants will study and discuss the mechanics of a long poem (or epic). How does a poet manage to sustain an idea while simultaneously unravelling new and unexpected turns? What are the key elements that go into making a long poem work, and how should one go about deciding subject and themes?

Together participants will be asked to think about long poems which have stood the test of time, ones which feel expansive and elliptical while also being rooted in a central preoccupation. The workshop will consist of close-reading a long poem then allocating time for discussion and writing. All abilities welcome.

Anthony Anaxagorou is a British-born Cypriot poet, fiction writer, essayist, publisher and poetry educator. His poetry has been published in POETRY, The Poetry Review, Poetry London, New Statesman, Granta, and elsewhere. His work has also appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio 4, ITV, Vice UK, Channel 4 and Sky Arts. Anthony is artistic director of Out-Spoken, a monthly poetry and music night held at London’s Southbank Centre, and publisher of Out-Spoken Press.