Writing Exercise: “In Defense of ‘Moist'”

ENG 326 Writing Poetry: Intermediate
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Fall 2017

8/15 Writing Exercise: “In Defense of ‘Moist’”

1. Read the poem “In Defense of ‘Moist’” by Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib and discuss.
2. Recall your favorite or least favorite word from the Introductions handout. If you selected your favorite word, title your poem “Against ‘[the word]’”; if you selected your least favorite word, title it “In Defense of ‘{the word]’.”
3. Draft a poem as an argument against your favorite word or for your least favorite word, after Willis-Abdurraqib.
   1. You may write this poem on the back of the Willis-Abdurraqib handout and add it into your writing journal later.
   2. Try not to let your critical, editorial part of your brain enter into the drafting process, as this will only limit you.
   3. Your skill level is irrelevant, as we’re all asked to draft right here, in the moment. We’re all on the same page, in terms of the poem’s parameters, and this ongoing writing and sharing in class will help us all improve, not to mention try something new in our work.
4. Share with the class and, in doing so, we’ll begin to discover ways we can best provide and receive feedback on poetic works.