Creating Poetry According to Classic Tradition
With my Keller Family Venture Grant, I was able to travel through regions of Italy and hone my writing skills to create better poetry.
Forum Romanum
I started off in Rome, admiring the concrete works of the ancient Romans.
Then I traveled to the Amalfi coast, spending four days on the historic island of Capri. I explored the ruins of the former emperor Tiberius' villa, becoming awe-struck by the natural beauty of the landscape. Towering cliffs, golden sunsets, and ceaseless whispers of the Mediterranean Sea influenced my creative brain.
Later, I spent two nights in the historic trade city of Naples, where I visited museums such as the National Archeological Museum and studied Roman art, including poetry.
As the trip winded down in Rome, I visited the Vatican and explored the poetry and art of Jean-Michel Folon. Finally, I visited the Keats-Shelley house and viewed first-hand the home for both John Keats and Percy Bysse Shelley during the Romantic era. Old poem drafts, letters, and pictures truly cemented the experience.
Here is a completed poem titled "Bones," which I was able to write after viewing the ancient Roman sites that inspired countless poets, including Keats and Shelley.
Thank you for the opportunity!
-Wade Noelke, Colorado College Class of 2024
