Olympia Poetry Network November 2026 Workshop

About the Workshop: The Short of It

Sometimes the most powerful poem is the shortest, packing an immense amount of feeling, insight, and memory into just a few lines. Focusing specifically on the elegy, this workshop will examine the work of several poets, exploring the effectiveness of brevity in sharpening emotional impact. Come join the discussion on how a single image such as an avocado plant, a portrait, a necklace, can do all the heavy lifting. If you have a favorite shot elegy, or have written one of your own, please bring it with you to the workshop.
This is a free workshop for subscribers. Subscriptions are $20 for one year. Please visit the website to join. Since there is limited space, please send your request for participation to Terri Cohlene at olypoetrynet@gmail.com.

Brandon Lewis was born in Seattle and raised throughout the states of Washington and Montana. He received his BA in English from the University of Washington and his MFA from the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. His first book of poems, The Mended Animal, was a finalist for the 2025 Richard Snyder Memorial Book Prize, as well as the 2025 Sally Albiso Award. His poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Chestnut Review, Nashville Review, Naugatuck River Review, Portland Review, and Superstition Review. He currently teaches high school English and lives with his wife and children in a small town near Olympia, Washington.
With thanks to the PARC Foundation for their support.

OPN Poetry Workshop
with Brandon Lewis
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
1-3 p.m.
Olympia Community Center, Room 288, 222 Columbia St NW, downtown