Teacher Feature: Kindra McDonald
“I believe in the power of words and especially in the healing powers of poetry. It has saved my life and given me strength when I needed it most, if poetry can do that, what can’t it do?” -Kindra McDonald
Take Kindra’s Class: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Our world is chaotic, changed, and kind of scary right now, but there is beauty, joy, tiny truths and big delights in the everyday ordinary stuff of our lives. Poetry shines a light on those small, ordinary moments and connects us all. Poetry can be an escape, a balm, a truth serum, a microscope, a magic wand and force as powerful as an embrace after months of living life six feet apart. There’s never been a more urgent time to document our world through the lens of poetry and to have fun playing with words. This is not your middle school poetry unit. Everyone has poems in them, Kindra will help you coax them out!
Kindra is the snake charmer of poetry, if reluctant students were small, non-venomous snakes. (In her day job, she hangs out with reptiles).
Kindra’s favorite poets:
- Mary Oliver
- Jane Hirschfield
- Chen Chen
- Tracy K. Smith
- Wendell Berry
- Lucille Clifton
- Li-Young Lee
- Rumi
- Yusef Komunyakaa
Kindra McDonald basking in poetic sunlight
Learn more about Kindra here, on her website, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook!
