Poetry and dream are like two siblings who have taken different paths in life but recognize a deep connection that derives from their common origins. They are so close, in fact, they sometimes forget whether they are talking about themselves or the other. Yet they differ in definitive ways. In this class we shall look at poems that illuminate both the similarities and separate functions of dreams and poems and the labyrinthine “caverns measureless to man” from which their sources spring. Our discussions as always will be guided by the poetics, structure, and themes of the poems.

Presenter: Barton Kunstler, Ph.D., has written and studied poetry all his life. He holds an undergraduate degree in English literature and a doctorate in Classical Studies from BU. His poems have been published in various venues and he has run writing and communication programs. He was a full professor and program director at Lesley University’s School of Management.