Classes @ San Diego Writers, Ink – Jim Moreno

     The great America poet, Carl Sandburg spoke to a joint session of
Congress on February 12, 1959 commemorating the 150th birthday of
Abraham Lincoln. On that day Mr. Sanburg said the following: Not
often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both
steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog,
who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and
peace unspeakable and perfect. Here and there across centuries come
reports of men alleged to have these contrasts. And the incomparable
Abraham Lincoln born 150 years ago this day is an approach if not a
perfect realization of this character.

     Mr. Lincoln as national hero of Mr. Sandburg, and countless politicians
and citizens, matches Jim Moreno’s admiration and following of
American poets Joy Harjo and Robert Bly. Jim is of the awareness
that some contemporary politicians, are only interested in power and
not in governing, seem to focus attention on gaslighting and not
policies or programs to help all Americans.

     The poetry, quotes. film clips, poetry prompts and storytelling in this

poem-making workshop have been chosen to help poets who sign up for
this 3 hour class find a path to their hearts, a path to their truth,
a path to who they are as human beings with pen in hand, and a path
to who they are not. Join Jim on his Zoom link class on Sunday,
August 18, 2024 at 3:00 PM to find out where you fit in this time of
revived hate and ignorance. Remember your pen and your vote are your
voice. Use your pen on Sunday, August 18^th. Use your
vote on Tuesday, November 5^th. You were born with the
gift of your voice. Use it. Click the link at the top of this
course description to register.

     If you are looking for a critique group this is not the class for you.
This class, as are all Jim’s classes, is taught in a Container of
safety and respect. After you sign
up using the above link to pay the fee, Jim will then e-mail the
class syllabus to you after Writers Ink forwards your e-mail address
to him the day before the class on Saturday, August 17, 2024. You
will receive your class syllabus with a bibliography. You will also
receive the Zoom ID link to this class when you receive your
syllabus.

     Jim asks that you tune in to the class meeting room 5 minutes before
class in case of difficulty navigating the Zoom numbers or you
experience any internet problems. Call him at 760 802-2449 if you
have any problems entering the class.

     Jim Moreno is a teaching artist with San Diego Writers, Ink. He also taught poetry at Arts Connection San Diego where he was voted the Residency Teaching Artist of the Year for 2016-2017. Moreno is on the Advisory Board of the Poetic Medicine Institute in Palo Alto, California and a Regional Editor of the San Diego Poetry Annual’s
adult, & Native American, chapters. Moreno is the author of Dancing in Dissent: Poetry for Activism (Dolphin Calling Press, 2007). He’s co-editor with Mary Kowit and Joseph D. Milosch of Poems that Speak to Us: Selected Poems of Steve Kowit (Garden Oak Press, 2021). As co-editor with Joe Milosch, Jim’s third book, The Activists Poetry Anthology: Selected Poems for Good Trouble (Garden Oak Press, 2022) was published July 18, 2022.

     Vietnam Veteran Moreno will be providing a free virtual poetry workshop for
California veterans and deported veterans on the 2^nd & 4^th Thursdays of July & August on July25, 2024, and August 8^th & 22^ndat 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Go to www.jimpoet.com for the Zoom link. The national and international veterans’ community is welcome to attend by funding from the Veterans Administration.

     Jim is the host of 2^nd Sunday Jihmye Poetry Open Mic at the Spacebar Cafe & Wine Bistro in La Mesa. His podcast on Anchor.FM entitled “Make Good Trouble”, is a
society and culture adventure with political and artist interviews, & spoken word. Contact him at [email protected], www.jimpoet.com, or www.jimmorenopoetryclasses.com.