The Melbourne Literature Seminars Refectory
Lunchtime Session
Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane
Here’s something new! In medieval monasteries, the monks and nuns used to take their
meals in the refectory, where often they would nourish spirit along with body by being read
edifying texts (usually homilies) while they ate. I’ve borrowed the notion of refection (but
not the homilies) for these one-off, one-hour poetry sessions, open to all, but of special
interest to individuals who’ve wished to attend MLS courses but could not commit to our
longer sessions because of weekday job-commitments. If you work in the CBD, here’s your
chance to pack a lunch and come on down.
Each session is freestanding, so come when you will and as you can. The fee for each is $10,
which you can bring on the day. No need to book ahead. Each session will be dedicated to
a key poem (or poems, if brief enough) of one poet. Below I list a schedule of what poets
we’ll read and discuss on which days, but I’m keeping the particular texts (which I will
provide in handouts) a surprise, largely because I may be deciding only the day before. Let’s
call it spontaneity! This first series comprises a fairly random selection of poets whose work
has amazed me at different times. Should it prove popular, I’ll be keeping it going and
would certainly welcome suggestions for other poets we might look into.
All MLS Refectory Sessions will meet on Wednesdays from 1pm till 2 pm
Ross House
0.2 Mezzanine Floor - Sue Healy Room
in the main entrance, up the half-flight of stairs to your left
Wednesday 6/8/14
Edward Thomas
Wednesday 13/8/14
Judith Wright
Wednesday 20/8/14
Robert Frost
Wednesday 27/8/14
Robert Lowell
Wednesday 3/9/14
Thomas Hardy
Wednesday 10/9/14
W.B. Yeats
Wednesday 17/9/14
Sylvia Plath
Wednesday 24/9/14
Ted Hughes
Wednesday 1/10/14
Eavan Boland
Wednesday 8/10/14
Emily Dickinson
Wednesday 15/10/14
Franz Kafka
Okay, technically not poetry, but his parables and
short short stories are practically prose-poems
and very rewarding reading
Wednesday 22/10/14
Chris Wallace-Crabbe