Listen a conversation with Aaren Yeatts Perry the president of Education Action Resources and poet and creative writing teacher for 20 years.
His works include Open Fire, Shipping and Receiving, and Mercury Calling. Perry co-edited several poetry collections, including “Under Lock and Key: 100 Poems From Death Row.”
Key points from the conversation:
- Mindfulness and Writing: Mindfulness connects emotions and stories, with breathwork allowing creativity to emerge naturally.
- Sensory Experiences: Aaren’s poem “Leaving Home” evokes vivid sensory imagery, linking memory and emotion.
- Co-Creation of Meaning: Readers bring their own experiences to interpret poetry, allowing open-ended meanings.
- Memory and Narrative: Memories are a rich source for stories, tapping into emotions for deeper connection.
- Silence and Listening: Silence in writing creates space for poetics, listening to internal/external cues for authentic expression.
- Universal in the Specific: Specific, vivid images can evoke universal emotions, a powerful tool in narrative medicine.
- Transformation through Journeys: Personal growth often arises from leaving comfort zones, reflected in writing journeys.
- Language as a Shared Tool: Language is communal; writing rearranges shared experiences.
- Connection and Empathy: Writing workshops foster safe spaces for sharing, enhancing empathy and building community.
