Poetry and the Metaphysical ‘I’

Details

Who—or what—is speaking in a poem? Is it you, a mask, a myth, a ghost? In this generative workshop, we’ll explore the poetic ‘I’ in all its forms: confessional, constructed, collective, imagined. Leaping off from Dorothea Lasky’s idea of the Metaphysical I, we’ll look at how poets use voice and perspective to deepen emotion, complicate truth, and open up space for invention. Through close reading of contemporary Australian and international poets, discussion, and writing exercises, we’ll experiment with first-person speakers, personas, unreliable narrators, and the slippery line between self and other. Together we’ll ask: what kind of ‘I’ does this poem need—and what happens when we let that ‘I’ become expansive and inventive? Ideal for poets working across forms, from raw autobiography to mythic retelling, this session invites you to bend voice, fracture perspective, and unlock unexpected ways into your work.

You Will Learn:

• Experiment with voice, persona, and perspective in poetry
• Discuss approaches to autobiography, grief, and trauma in poetic practice
• Learn how myth and persona can function as poetic tools
• Read and discuss work by poets who experiment with the line between self and speaker
• Draft new work through guided writing prompts and provocations.

Please bring pen and paper or your fully charged laptop to participate in the writing exercises.

About the Tutor:

Izzy Roberts-Orr is a poet, writer, and performance maker based on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country in Regional Victoria. Her debut poetry collection, Raw Salt (Vagabond Press, 2024), was shortlisted for the Colorado Prize for Poetry. A recipient of the BR Whiting Residency (Rome, 2026), ASAL Fellowship (2025), Seedpod Residency (2025), Varuna’s Pitch Me! Fellowship (2024), and Highly Commended for the ASA Award Mentorships (2025), she also works as Creative Producer at Red Room Poetry.