A contrapuntal poem (derived from the Italian contrapunto, “pertaining to a counterpoint”) is a poem made up of multiple poems, which invites readers to read the poem in two or more ways. How are we to read poems that have multiple angles of approach? How do we write such poems?

This class will begin with a brief overview of the contrapuntal's origins in music (Baroque and jazz), then engage in close readings of contrapuntal poems by Nkosi Nkululeko, Tyehimba Jess, and others. Students will be given time to write and share drafts, and they will come away from the class with prompts and strategies for completing their own contrapuntal poems.

This class is taught by a graduate student in the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s MFA Program in Creative Writing.