Poetry Hacks to Connect With Anyone on a Deeper Level - Portland

In this online session designed for the Portland community, you will explore Poetry Hacks to Connect With Anyone on a Deeper Level. Discover how the basic principles of poetry can transform your everyday conversations—whether on a misty Portland morning or in a digital chat—and help you build stronger relationships, even if you have never written a poem before. This is an opportunity to understand communication in a new light, using simple techniques to foster genuine connections.

We will look beyond complex literary analysis, focusing instead on communication styles that resonate within our creative Portland culture. You will get insights on the power of metaphor, imagery, and rhythm in simple, direct communication. These are not academic concepts but practical tools you can use immediately. Learn how paying attention to the sound and shape of words can change how others receive your message and respond to you, a skill as useful at a local market as it is in a professional email.

The goal is to move past surface-level small talk, something many of us in Portland strive to do. Understand how to listen more attentively, much like a poet listens for subtext and emotion. You will also learn about expressing your own thoughts and feelings with greater clarity and impact. This approach helps create moments of real understanding with friends, family, and colleagues across the city.

In this talk, you will learn about:

• How simple comparisons can make your ideas more relatable.
• The importance of specific details in creating a shared experience.
• Using the pace of your speech to add emotional weight.
• How to listen for what is not being said directly.

You will leave this online talk with a new perspective on language and connection. While this session is curated with the Portland community in mind, the ideas presented are universally applicable and will help you improve communication in your personal and professional life, no matter where you are joining from.