On August 9, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate Kathleen Driskell kicked off our exclusive three-part craft talk series with a deep, illuminating conversation that invited KSPS members to reconsider what poetic form can offer—not just as a structure, but as a lifeline.
Through personal anecdotes and rich literary history, Kathleen traced the arc of a centuries-old form and showed how its familiar shape can be both a creative challenge and a surprising comfort when the words won’t come. Attendees were offered a glimpse into how form can offer clarity, guidance, and even play—especially during times of creative drought.
Each poet left with something different: a question, a new draft, a memory of rhythm, a spark. That’s the magic of this series—not just the knowledge shared, but the space made for reflection, curiosity, and community.
Part Two arrives in October, and it promises a new set of tools for writers looking to sharpen, shape, and deepen their poems. Kathleen will return with more insights and hands-on strategies, this time exploring the art of revision—and how to turn the raw material of inspiration into something refined, resonant, and whole.
This free virtual event will again be capped at 55 participants. Registration is open now.
Kentucky State Poetry Society 