Uncover the Spectral in Verse: “Ghosts of Meter” Poetry Workshop coming to Brookgreen Gardens
September 29, 2026
As the days shorten and the autumn air turns crisp, Brookgreen Gardens invites writers of all experience levels to tap into the uncanny power of structured verse. On Friday, October 2, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Brookgreen’s Julia J. Kinnaird Poetry Program will present Ghosts of Meter: A Workshop on Poetry Forms, a creative session exploring the connection between poetic rhythm and the supernatural.
Structure, Rhythm, and the Supernatural
Part literary discussion and part hands-on creative workshop, Ghosts of Meter offers a spirited opportunity to hone your craft just in time for the Halloween season. Participants will examine how celebrated poets—including Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas, Yusef Komunyakaa, and Natasha Trethewey—use formal structures and deliberate meter to build atmosphere, shape voice, and evoke ghostly themes.
Throughout the 90-minute session, attendees will learn about a variety of classical and modern poetic forms, including:
Villanelles and Sonnets
Blank Verse and Hymn Stanzas
Free Verse techniques
Guided writing exercises will give participants immediate opportunities to experiment with these rhythmic frameworks and craft their own works.
Event Details & Registration
No prior poetry writing experience is necessary to participate.
Date/Time: Friday, October 2, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration: Space is limited, and advance registration is required.
To reserve your spot or learn more about upcoming educational offerings, visit Brookgreen Gardens Events.
About the Instructor
The workshop will be led by published poet and scholar Dr. Daniel Cross Turner. Dr. Turner holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and taught literature and creative writing at the collegiate level for two decades. Author of five books—including the poetry collection Riding Light and the scholarly work Undead Souths: The Gothic and Beyond in Southern Literature and Culture—he currently serves as the Head of Outreach & Programming for the Georgetown County Library.
