This semester, MFA students and Creative Writing Director Mary Ann Samyn paired with WVU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a self-directed organization of senior citizens, to workshop poems. We hope this pairing will continue for several semesters to come. Two MFA students share their experiences:

Christina Seymour, 3rd year, poet:

The WVU/Osher Lifelong Learning Institute writing classes provides current MFA students and local senior citizens a place to share work, suggestions, and relaxed, yet meaningful, conversation. Meeting at the Mountaineer Mall classroom location, and led by creative writing professor Mary Ann Samyn, our group was small and mighty.

Over the course of several weeks, our discussions included Japanese urns, celebratory language, vultures, Vietnam, an antique tintype’s imagined words, abuse, funerals, obesity, girlhood, political correctness, eroticism, and much more. These conversations sent me inward to consider such relevant topics as readership and gravity, at the critical time of making final edits to my thesis.

What felt most immediate and worthwhile about these workshops was our ability to relate, and our comfort in doing so. Critiques of our works were welcome invitations—the gifts of looking closely and caring. The OLLI classes reminded me most to treasure the exchange of writing as the social responsibility, the human connection, it is.

Morgan O’Grady, 2nd year, poet:

Each session was different, but always honest and helpful. The writing presented in the group touched on topics I see in our workshops, such as frustration or love. Their poems were moving and careful, and highlighted dandelions and even touched on the erotic. What can I say? I was certainly surprised!

I was inspired after working with OLLI workshop participants. Their ability to listen and give clear feedback was lovely. I enjoyed experiencing and talking about the work after first read. It gave a nice texture to the experience. This was a great opportunity for me to have an audience outside of the MFA program too.

In the future I hope the group expands to include more senior citizens and other MFA students. It can benefit everyone involved and help build a new niche in the community.