The Verona Public Library, in celebration of National Poetry Month, will host a poetry workshop “All We Have Is Our Voice – How to Write a Persona Poem” on Thursday, April 29, at 7 p.m. The workshop will be led by Verona resident, Professor Carole Stone.
Stone, the distinguished professor of English and creative writing, emerita, at Montclair State University, has published two collections of poetry spoken in another’s voice: Hurt, the Shadow, focusing on Jo Hopper and All We Have is Our Voice, which includes the voices of Sophia Tolstoi, Frida Kahlo, Nora Joyce and Mary Lincoln. Stone will share her fascination with biography and the act of inhabiting the inner life of another person–real or imagined. (Stone was profiled in MyVeronaNJ in 2020 for her leadership of a poetry writing group.)
In this workshop, Stone will begin by defining a persona poem. Participants may respond to prompts that will be given or write their own poem, one page fiction piece or one page essay. Writers may choose to speak in a friend or family member’s voice.
There will be ample time for freewriting during the workshop. Everyone is encouraged to read their work aloud and to take part in a lively discussion. Writers of all levels are welcome. This event will be held via Zoom. Please register here to receive the link to join.
