We are living on a fragile and sacred planet that needs us to speak on its behalf. What happens when we attune ourselves to the songs of the grass, the trees, and the creatures that share our world?
The act of reading and writing poetry can train us to listen deeply to the voices of the earth. We will come together for a nature poetry walk. We will read a selection of environmental poems that will open us up to different ways of speaking for the earth. Then we’ll take a walk and engage in writing exercises inspired by the landscape.
Bring a notebook, pen, and an open mind. All are welcome; no writing experience necessary.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Hila Ratzabi, author
Age: 16 and older
Course number: A241
Instructor
Hila Ratzabi, author
Hila Ratzabi is the author of There Are Still Woods (June Road Press, 2022), which won a gold Nautilus Book Award and was a finalist for a National Indie Excellence Award. Her poetry has been published widely in literary journals and in The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry and Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology. She holds an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College.
Ratzabi regularly offers poetry readings and workshops, has offered panels at the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference and elsewhere, and has served as a curator of multiple reading series and as an editor of a literary journal. She is director of communications at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe and lives in Oak Park.
What to Know
This program meets outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather. Bring a notebook and pen. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and plan to walk more than a mile on uneven terrain. This program is appropriate for all levels.
Program Schedule
Saturday, July 20, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Thornhill Education Center, West Side
