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Black & white close-up of a corked ink bottle, with a quill pen and a dip pen set inside it, on a worn wooden desk, a stack of papers to the right.
Image featuring text superimposed over a black & white photograph. A medium close-up of a corked ink bottle, with a quill pen and a dip pen set inside it, on a worn wooden desk, a stack of papers to the right. Top right: Poetry As Medicine by Brent Klassen. Bottom left: Experience the healing power of words while learning poetry by heart.

Taking in a poem Taking in a poem

until it lives in your heart.

Home Events Poetry Vocamus Writers Workshop: Poetry As Medicine

Vocamus Writers Workshop: Poetry As Medicine

One night only – on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – Vocamus Writers Community presents Poetry As Medicine, a workshop to experience the healing power of words while learning poetry by heart.

Explore the power of learning poems by heart

Inspired by Kim Rosen’s book Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words, workshop facilitator Brent Klassen took up the lost art of learning poetry by heart. In this workshop, he’ll talk a bit about the process of working with a poem. Far from rote memorization, this workshop gives participants the opportunity to gradually take the poem in until it lives in their hearts, where they can access it whenever they need its comfort or wisdom. Participants will be invited to bring along a poem they’d like to learn (preferably written by someone else) and workshop the learning process together.

About Vocamus Writers Community

Vocamus Writers Community is a non-profit organization that supports book and writing culture in Wellington County, ON. They run and promote local workshops, writing groups, hang-outs, open mics, retreats and their annual Book Bash Festival. They also publish a few chapbook-length titles each year.

Image featuring text superimposed over a black & white photograph. A medium close-up of a corked ink bottle, with a quill pen and a dip pen set inside it, on a worn wooden desk, a stack of papers to the right. Top: 2026 Vocamus Writers Community Writing Workshops. Poetry As Medicine by Brent Klassen. Bottom: Experience the healing power of words while learning poetry by heart. October 6th (6-8 PM) @vocamus_writers_community

(Photo credits: Vocamus Writers Community.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Vocamus Writers Community 

Type of event: poetry memorization workshop

Facilitator: Brent Klassen

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Start time: 6:00 PM ET

Duration: 2 hours (non-recurring event)

Number of sessions: 1

Cost: C$15.00 or pay-what-you-can

Location: Vocamus Writers Community, 255 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 3V8

Booking link: Email vocamuswriterscommunity@gmail.com to register.

Contact details: Vocamus Writers Community, 255 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 3V8, Canada; vocamuswriterscommunity@gmail.com, vocamuswriterscommunity.com

 

Content warning: For adult participants.

Accessibility: Please contact the organizer (see contact info above).