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Poetic Handcuffs

the Kinky Side of Form

Join the Laureate of Coconut Creek, Laura McDermott Matheric for this poetry workshop series.

Are you tired of your free verse running wild like an untamed beast? Do you secretly long for the sweet embrace of structure? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because this workshop series is about to introduce you to the comfortable constraint of form poems. By the end of this series, you'll be begging for more rules and restrictions. You'll discover the paradoxical freedom of working within tight constraints, much like how a corset inexplicably makes it easier to breathe (or so we've heard). Warning: Side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to speak in iambic pentameter, an unhealthy obsession with rhyming dictionaries, and the ability to turn any conversation into a haiku. Proceed with caution, you kinky wordsmiths. Sometimes, the only way to truly express yourself is to stuff your creativity into a pre-existing box. It's not writer's block; it's writer's Lego! Bring pen and paper because at the end of each presentation, Laura will help you launch into writing your own poems.

Tuesday, April 1st 

Haiku: Where Less Is More, Even if It's Less

 Known for her Cree-ku daily writing series, Poet Laura will walk us through the sophistication of the traditional 17-syllable poem and explore modern version of this classical Japanese form. This workshop will enhance your appreciation for the subtle beauty of haiku and sharpen your skills in concise, evocative writing delving into the use of seasonal references (kigo) and cutting words (kireji). By the end of our session, you'll have your own haiku and a deeper understanding of this timeless art form.

Tuesday, April 8th 

Must I Paint You a Picture? An Ekphrastic Poetry workshop

Poets have long used their reactions to works of art as the impetus for ekphrastic poems; poems stimulated by a work of art. The long-established tradition of ekphrastic poetry opens the door to a wide range of creative approaches for poets to engage with a work of art in another medium. Bring with you an image of the piece of art you’d like to write about.

Tuesday, April 15th 

Poetic Pile-On: Because Misery Loves Company

 Working in collaboration is like romance: two people are able to accomplish together what neither could do by themselves. In this workshop, we will incorporate collaborative exercises such as creating group poems or responding to each other's lines, to enhance creativity and build connections between writers. The workshop will enhance creativity and build connections between writers. 

Saturday, April 26th (3:30-5:00pm)

Tarrazu Coffee Co.: Participant Reading

In this final installment of the workshop series, participants from previous sessions will showcase the work they produced. This public reading will take place Saturday, April 26th at the Tarrazu Coffee Co. (4863 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek). Guests are asked to arrive between 3:00 and 3:15pm to make their personal food purchases from the front counter. The participants’ reading will begin at 3:30pm.  

Laura McDermott Matheric's first book of poetry, Visions on Alligator Alley was published by Lominy Books in 2015. A Professor of English, Laura regularly teaches writing workshops and literature courses at Broward College and throughout the community. Recent publications include The Closed Eye Open, The Sad Girl Diaries, Purple Ink Press, and Chameleon Chimera. She was appointed the first Poet Laureate of the City of Coconut Creek in 2022, first of any municipality in Broward County Florida, furthering her efforts to support growth in education, the arts, and the community. She holds an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Florida International University and will earn her second master’s degree this May in Educational Leadership as Laura pursues her Ph.D. in Higher Educational Leadership and Research Methodology at Florida Atlantic University.

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