Our People and Where We Find Them

Somehow, we’re already at the halfway point of our short and sweet May residency with FORA. Two questions that anchored our third session were 1) where do we find “our people” and 2) is a poem in a paragraph format really a poem? We read “I Walk Into Every Room And Yell Where The Mexicans At?” and pulled out the many threads that Olivarez expertly weaves throughout. Next, each student thought about three groups they belong to, chose one, and wrote about where they find them. Some beautiful words were written, though students are reluctant to share. Instead, I leave you all with the exquisite corpse poem we wrote as our opening activity.

For those who are uninitiated – an exquisite corpse poem is written when each person contributes a line, only seeing the line before theirs as context.

Select list(s) to subscribe to




CPC will not sell your email. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from The Chicago Poetry Center. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact