Honor Yourself, Honor the Earth: A Generative Workshop to Bring Us Back Home

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Workshop Description

In this workshop, we will read poems that focus on the natural, more than human world, while also attending to our minds and bodies through breathing exercises and somatic practices that will allow us to create from a more grounded and focused place. We will read poems by authors like Camille Dungy, Todd Davis, Ada Limon, Brenda Hillman, among others. Craftwise, we will learn about forms like the ode, the elegy, and the epistolary, and will try our hand at writing our own. By the end of the workshop, you should have at least 4 drafts for new poems, as well as a few “seeds” to grow other poems from.

Workshop Details

Spring 2026
Dates: April 14, 21, 28, May 5
Four sessions with Leonora Simonovis on Zoom
Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. (ET)
$215 193.50

Workshop Facilitator

Leonora Simonovis is a Venezuelan American poet and the author of Study of the Raft, winner of the 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry and Honorable Mention at the 2022 International Latino Book Awards. Her poems consider the intersections of myth, language, and story in connection to the land and to her experience as an exile. Leonora’s poetry has been featured in or is forthcoming from the Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day, About Place Journal, Amsterdam Review, Whale Road Review, SWWIM, and others. She has been the recipient of fellowships and residencies from the Poetry Foundation, California Arts Council, The Poetry Lab, VONA, Vermont Studio Center, and Esperimento Sul Respiro. Leonora lives in Rochester, NY, with her family and two dogs.

Comments:

"Leonora gave us a fun way to introduce ourselves to each other via email before class, and that was great to get us thinking about fairy tales. I enjoyed her presentation of content, and then poem prompts, then writing and sharing. The three hours flew by!"

“In addition to the wonderful poets and poems that we discussed, I always appreciate a recommendation for further reading, either a periodical, or a book of essays about the subject matter, or even funky fiction using myths and fairy tales. Leo is a peach, juicy and fuzzy, with a hard stone intellect. Happy to spend time with her, as with all your instructors. THX.” J.J. Ohio

"The class was structured so well. Between readings, exercises, and discussions we covered a lot of material in class and got to build a sense of camaraderie with each other."

"I have new ways of looking at and engaging with poetry, as well as my own story and process. I have new writers to read and discover. I am so excited to carry these lessons forward, and I am extremely happy with all three pieces I produced during the course of the session."

"Loved the prompts and will use again to help me generate more writing. The opening exercise is one I can continue to use as well."

Questions: editors@riverheronreview.com

Refunds: Up to one week prior to the workshop start date, full refund minus $15 processing fee. After that time, there are no refunds.

Workshop sessions are not recorded, nor are there make up sessions.