"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul..." Emily Dickenson sent that classic image to us. Many poets present other images of hope, a quality we all want, need, and seek. In this course, we will explore visions of hope from Mary Oliver, Jane Hirshfield, Pablo Neruda, Wendell Berry and more. Here, you'll find inspiration from accessible works and perhaps come away with the hopeful outlook of Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz who wrote at ninety, "I can scarcely wait till tomorrow, when my new life will begin, as it does every day...."

This course will be comprised of lecture and discussion. All readings will be distributed by email to participants a week before each class. Everyone is encouraged to bring a print or digital copy to every session.