The Found Poetry Workshop

You're invited to The Found Poetry Workshop on Sunday, July 20 from 2-4pm at the Dusty Bookshelf in Manhattan Kansas' Aggieville District. During this class, where you'll learn basic techniques for creating poetry on your own, and leave feeling empowered to do more!

Join local poet and author, Megan Hartford, for a relaxed introductory class on the poetry technique of "found" poetry. Found poems are created by piecing together words and/or short phrases from writings that already exist, known as the source material, or inspiration for your work.

Paper and pens will be provided for attendees, but you're also encouraged to bring your own pens and paper that you're already comfortable using, as well as written materials you are inspired by.

You can also get a coffee, tea or other beverage or snack from the Dusty Bookshelf coffee bar.

Get to know your Instructor, Megan Hartford: Megan is a poet, activist, follower of curiosity, book reader, garden tender, seeker, student and teacher living in Manhattan, Kansas with her two daughters.

Get to know your host: The Found Poetry Workshop is part of the I've Always Wanted To... workshop and immersive learning series for women, hosted by Sarah Siders and the Flourish Community, an online and IRL group of women in Midlife committed to stepping into the second half of life with poise, power and wisdom and who want to explore new passions and identities. You can be part of the Flourish Community for free .

Get to know the Found Poetry style: When it comes to writing poetry, source material is anything you draw inspiration or actual words from. It could be a journal entry, a newspaper article, a conversation you overheard, or even a list of ingredients on a cereal box.

Found poetry takes this a step further—it's like making a collage out of existing words. You "find" phrases or lines in other texts and rearrange them into something new. It’s not about inventing the words yourself, but about seeing something poetic in what already exists. Think of it as highlighting hidden beauty in everyday language.

Also check out other Arts events in Manhattan, Literary Art events in Manhattan, Workshops in Manhattan.