Gogyohka is a five line poem of the breath. It is easy to learn and you can write with total freedom to express your heart's truth. Unlike Western conventional thought that places “poets” as separate people with special talents, Japanese culture, following Shintoism, believes all people have a song inside them waiting to come out. As Enta Sensei puts it: there is a masterpiece in every heart.
During this special one-session workshop, we will gather to learn more deeply about this form, breathing into the central axis of our being to see what’s there, write a little bit, smile a lot, and share our poems. We will wrap things up with each participant selecting their favorite song to be included in the next issue of Gogyohka to be published in Japan.
NOTE: In keeping with our mission, to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the registration fee for this event is "Pay What You Can." We believe every writer, reader, storyteller, and literary enthusiast who wants to attend a Literary Cleveland event should be able to have that experience. "Pay What You Can" registration allows comfortable, affordable participation for everyone. We have suggested fees—you can pay one of them, or pay what you can. Your participation is the priority for us.
Gogyohka is a five line poem of the breath. It is easy to learn and you can write with total freedom to express your heart's truth. Unlike Western conventional thought that places “poets” as separate people with special talents, Japanese culture, following Shintoism, believes all people have a song inside them waiting to come out. As Enta Sensei puts it: there is a masterpiece in every heart.
During this special one-session workshop, we will gather to learn more deeply about this form, breathing into the central axis of our being to see what’s there, write a little bit, smile a lot, and share our poems. We will wrap things up with each participant selecting their favorite song to be included in the next issue of Gogyohka to be published in Japan.
NOTE: In keeping with our mission, to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the registration fee for this event is "Pay What You Can." We believe every writer, reader, storyteller, and literary enthusiast who wants to attend a Literary Cleveland event should be able to have that experience. "Pay What You Can" registration allows comfortable, affordable participation for everyone. We have suggested fees—you can pay one of them, or pay what you can. Your participation is the priority for us.
Tim Geaghan has been writing Gogyohka for 17 years while studying under Enta Kusakabe, the founder of the form. Since 2010 his poems and nisshi (poetic diary) have been published regularly in Kusakabe’s monthly magazine, Gogyohka. He has held Uta-kai (poetry gatherings) monthly for the last 2 years in Cleveland after hosting numerous workshops, readings, and speaker events around the New York City metropolitan area.
