You might become holier by writing poems soul-ier

"The specificity and love with which he observes this cat -- it's a reverence for this living being that makes [the poem] spiritual," she told The Evangelist.

Dr. Oringel, herself a poet, will lead an eight-session workshop titled "Writing Poetry as Spiritual Practice" at the diocesan Consultation Center, beginning Feb. 23.

Paying attention

In her workshop, she plans to discuss poets ranging from the classic Gerard Manley Hopkins to the more contemporary Robert Bligh.

Some poets, like George Herbert, focused overtly on God in their work. Herbert "has a personal relationship with God," said Dr. Oringel. "He fights with Him; he yells at Him."

Others, like Andrew Hudgins in his "The Persistence of Nature in Our Lives," might write about the seasons as a means toward spirituality. Hudgins' famous poem recalls the time of year when trees shed pollen.

Being original

The facilitator expects to see both new and more accomplished poets in the workshop. "We're all going to be beginners," she stated. "Every time you look at the blank canvas or the blank page, you're starting over again."

Finding spirituality through poetry, she said, is about "finding the extraordinary in the ordinariness of everyday life."

Expressing self

"It's not fixed in stone," she said of the workshop's subject matter. "People can give input on what they're interested in."

Besides, she added, poetry "is not about writing something great. It's about writing something true."

("Writing Poetry as Spiritual Practice" will be held from 7-9 p.m. for eight consecutive Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 23. Cost is $80; $85 after Feb. 16. Call 489-4431 for information.)

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