Verso: 5-Week Poetry Course

“I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide.” — Billy Collins

After two sold-out poetry workshops with Giacomo Boffi (Home of Poetry), we are thrilled to launch our first long-term poetry course: VERSO: A Five-Week Course on Reading and Writing Poetry.

What is poetry? Contrary to common belief, it is neither distant nor abstract. The word itself derives from the Greek verb poiein: to make. Poetry is an act of making, a living practice shaped by language, rhythm, memory, and attention.

Over five dedicated sessions, Giacomo will guide you through:

• Images and Observation

• Form and Experimentation

• Rhythm and Sound

• Voice and Performance

• Drafting and Revision

The course will also feature guest contributions from poetry-slam champion Amy McCallister (UK) and copywriter and poet Angelique Neumann (US) during specialised sessions.

This course is designed as a collaborative and welcoming space. Whether you are writing your first poem or refining an existing draft, no prior experience is required, only curiosity and an openness to experiment.

By the end of the course, participants will have gained a deep understanding of how to read and write poetry, leaving with newly drafted work and at least one poem prepared for submission.

COURSE DETAILS

• Teacher: Giacomo Boffi (Founder of Home of Poetry; 2026 Poem of the Year long-list, The Poetry Society)

• Dates: May 11, May 18, June 1, June 8, June 22 (Mondays)

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (10 hours of in-person lectures total, plus homework and practice)

• Class Size: Limited to 12 participants to ensure individual feedback.