new videos / week 5

On Robert Frost’s “Birches” (filmed “on location”)

by Al Filreis · May 24, 2022

We’ve added Frost’s “Birches” to ModPoPLUS. This includes a rare 1936 recording of Frost performing the poem. And it includes a new “on location” video in which Laynie and I, along with Stephen Metcalf (host of the Slate Culture Gabfest), walk through a birch forest in the Catskills while discussing this poem. Expert audio managed by Chris Martin, while, walking backwards, Zach handled the camera with our new fabulous “steady-cam” harness. Watch the results!

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fall 2024 webcast schedule

NOTE: All times given are Eastern U.S. Time. Click HERE to watch any webcast live.

Week 1 — Wed, Sept 4 – NOON
Week 2 – Wed, Sept 11 – 8 PM (with Iain Morrison)
Week 3 – Wed, Sept 18 – 10 AM
Week 4 – Thurs, Sept 26 – 6:30 PM (live from Montreal)
Week 5 – Wed, Oct 2 – 10 AM
Week 6 – Wed, Oct 9 – NOON (with Bob Holman)
Week 7 – Wed, Oct 16: 3 PM
Week 8 – Wed, Oct 23: 3 PM (with Charles Bernstein)
Week 9 – Wed, Oct 30 – 10 AM
Week 10 – Wed, Nov 6 – NOON (with Rae Armantrout)
FINAL WORDS – Mon, Nov 11 – NOON

[] Click HERE to watch recordings of all the ModPo 2023 webcasts.

watch recordings of our 2023 live webcasts

Click HERE to view all 2023 live webcasts.

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Since our first session back in 2012, ModPo people have arranged meet-ups around the world. And they have formed online study groups. To find a meet-up in your city or region and to find a study group you might like to join, click HERE. You can also post to the ModPo Facebook group HERE.

take ModPo for credit

Yes, you can take ModPo for University of Pennsylvania credit. Three 10-week sessions are offered each year: fall, spring, summer. This version of ModPo is taught by ModPo coordinator Laynie Browne. Click HERE for all the info you need. Contact Laynie with questions at modpo@writing.upenn.edu.

meet the ModPo TAs

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If you would like to receive ModPo announcements by email, write to us at modpo@writing.upenn.edu. If you would like to receive weekly announcements about Kelly Writers House events (all of which are streamed live), write to wh@writing.upenn.edu.

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for teachers

ModPo has created a Teacher Resource Center (“TRC“) for teachers who use ModPo poems & videos in their classrooms. Click HERE to read teaching guides and watch videos in which teachers talk about teaching with ModPo. If you wish to be added to our teachers mailing list, write us at modpo@writing.upenn.edu. Click HERE to discuss ModPo poems with other teachers.

CCCR

Our “Community Collaborative Close Readings” page consists of videos created by ModPo people worldwide as they gather together to collaborate on the close reading of a poem from or related to the ModPo syllabus. Click HERE to visit the CCCR page and watch some of the videos—and to read guidelines for creating your own CCCR video.

PoemTalk

PoemTalk is a monthly podcast produced by Al Filreis at the Kelly Writers House in collaboration with the Poetry Foundation. All episodes, including the newest, are archived at Jacket2 magazine HERE. You can also listen and subscribe through Apple Podcasts by clicking HERE or Spotify by clicking HERE. Most PoemTalk episodes are audio-only, but here is the video recording of PoemTalk #127—about a poem by John Ashbery: