This course is an introduction to the reading and writing of poetry. It is designed as the first in a sequence of courses for creative writing majors. Non-majors wishing experience in the writing of verse, both traditional and free, are welcome. Writing exercises are concerned with the elements of diction, scansion and metrics, as well as imagery. Some classes are devoted to workshop sessions in which poems written by members of the class are discussed. Students are required to submit a final project, which contains exercises and poems written and revised throughout the semester.