Well, for our next-to-last meeting, I asked the students in the poetry lab to read some excerpts from various reference works on poetics or linguistics on the following topics: rhyme, rhythm, syntax and structure, and tropes and metaphors. Typing this in now, I see a bias derived from Language Writing in my decision to locate structure with syntax rather than (also) with rhyme.
        The following is Derek’s amusing and instructive response to my syntax and structure prompt:

        etto kered yb

        Is it in the syntax?

        ?what we do mean order bY

        Synaptical, syntactical, paradigms enactable

        Paratactic puzzle pieces find you fit

        getherTo a meaning towards

        Which follow and interpret

        Order in out take and deliver

        A message you too?

        Hard look you will find

        Rhyson and Reame

        Matrix of fractal organizings

        Upon suspicious factitious

        Fractions of the auspicious

        You miss us?

        We’re here right

        At the end

        To spell out the

        F I N I S H

On Friday, several members of the poetry lab read their work at the semiannual reading for the Writing Center’s Voices magazine, which contains contributions from students who have worked in the Writing Center. I encourage you to visit the Voices website and read some of the contributions; they are excellent reading. (NB: at the time I’m posting this, material from the current Voices is not yet available online, but it will be soon, so go check!) Hopefully there will be some pictures from the Voices reading posted here or at the University of Iowa Writing Center website.