The Lyric, A Poetry Masterclass with Judith Beveridge 2/10/25

This workshop will explore how lyric poetry specifically, with its unique characteristics of brevity, musicality, concentration of thought and emotion in a formalised way, can reverberate and animate consciousness, to bring us into connection with the inner life.

When we read a lyric poem, we give ourselves over to a process of becoming the poem: we enter its rhythm and sound structures, its flow of images. Lyric poetry can open up sacred spaces. By perceiving the unique quality of the present moment, a lyric poem can help us experience a moment of unique perception, when the transitory and the eternal, the earthly and the spiritual are reconciled.
The lyric poem can renew the world, performing the sacraments of making things fresh.

This workshop will explore examples of poems which work in this way and exercises to help develop emotional intensity and resonance.

Note: This is similar to a workshop with the same title that Judith ran for The Verandah in 2022 but new poems will be included in the discussion.

Judith Beveridge lives in Sydney, Australia and is one of Australia most celebrated poets and teachers. She has published eight volumes of poetry all of which have won or been short-listed for major prizes. Her latest book is  Tintinnabulum (Giramondo, 2024). Sun Music: New and Selected Poems (Giramondo, 2018), won the Prime Minister’s Poetry Prize in 2019. She has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies including Contemporary Australian Poetry, (Puncher & Wattmann 2016). She was poetry editor for the literary magazine Meanjin from 2005-2016. Her work has been studied in schools and universities and translated into many languages. She taught poetry writing at post-graduate level for many years at the University of Sydney and continues to work in the community. She is a recipient of the Philip Hodgins Memoria Medal and the Christopher Brennan Award for excellence in literature.

2 hours long

Start time: 10am UK time // 5pm Perth Australia // 6.30pm Adelaide & Darwin // 7pm Brisbane, Sydney, AEST

Advertised times on this site are in London, UK Timezone, but when you add the event to your calendar it should be correct for your local time zone.

You can check your timezone against London UK time here: https://greenwichmeantime.com/time-gadgets/time-zone-converter/

Cost £30 GBP (with cost effective exchange via STRIPE)

There are also 6x tickets 'Recording only' for £23 (but you must read the terms and conditions above about how this works) . The recording is available for 2 weeks following the workshop. (It's ONLY for those who can't make the date, and NOT for those who buy a live ticket and don't turn up on the day.) If you can make the date choose the live ticket.

Zoom link and materials will be sent by email at least 2 days prior. If you don’t receive it get in touch with me.

This event will be recorded. These workshops are intended as live and interactive. However, there are sometimes those keen to come who cannot make the date of a workshop, therefore we are offering a small number of 'recording only' tickets to be purchased in advance ONLY for those who can't make the date. If you buy a live ticket and don't turn up on the day, you can't access the recording – sorry, it's not a fall back. You can buy a live OR recorded ticket. This is because we primarily want poets to come and participate in live workshops. 'Recording only' tickets allow access to listen to a recording of the workshop during the 2 weeks following the workshop. Note that we may share or sell the recording in the future years to new participants. If you are a live participant bear in mind that your voice/image/name/chat might be included in the recording. (You may wish to use a first name only in your Zoom window.) Note that we may share or sell the recording in the future years to new participants. I’m keen to hear your views on this with the purpose of allowing more people to benefit, but keeping the spirit of the live workshops alive.

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