Draft Experimental Poem

From Brooklyn Poets workshop on contemporary experimental poetry

I’m much further along on my concussion recovery than I was a few weeks ago. It’s been 4 weeks? This experience has given me heightened awareness of my body - every headache, sensitivity to light and noise, shifts in energy. I’ve been learning to give myself more grace.

I’ve been taking a new poetry workshop! I’ve been learning from Vanessa Jimenez Gabb and my fellow participants in her Intro to Contemporary Experimental Poetry workshop through Brooklyn Poets. I’m taking the workshop with my friend and amazing poet, Daad (you can find some of her writing here!).

During the first two weeks of the workshop, we learned about the lineage of experimental poetry - rooted in speaking against systemic power and making stark injustice and oppression. We also read and discussed selected experimental poems from the last 10 years or so. Last week, we started writing and workshopping our own experimental poems.

I appreciate the way Vanessa emphasizes process over product. I’ve been enjoying experimenting with how I write - where I look for inspiration, writing prompts, testing out forms and shape, mixing mediums.

For last Saturday’s new moon in Taurus, I’m sharing with you a rough first draft of an experimental poem I’m working on. After workshopping, hope to share with you a revised version in the future!

New Moon in Taurus: May 16, 2026 at 4:01 PM eastern