ROCKLAND — Have you ever wondered what makes a poem a sonnet? Are you a writer who is curious about the form?

Reencountering the Sonnet: Millay, Seuss and the Generative Sonnet, a workshop facilitated by poet and University of Maine teacher Claire Millikin, will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Millay House Rockland. 

Attendees will look at Millay’s sonnets as well as the sonnets of contemporary poet Diane Seuss, demystify the sonnet form, and read and discuss four sonnets. Lastly, the group will move into prompts based on these poems, concluding with the opportunity to share and, if desired, receive critique of one’s poetry written in this workshop. 

This in-person class will be held at Millay House Rockland. The workshop is free to members of Millay House Rockland, or you can register for $50 and your purchase will include a membership. 

Instructor Claire Millikin is the author of ten books of poetry, including Magicicada (Unicorn Press 2024). Millikin is a recipient of an Independent Book Award Distinguished Favorite (2025), the Charles Simic Prize, Editor’s Choice (2023), and a Maine Literary Award (2021). Claire Millikin lives in Owls Head, Maine, and teaches for the University of Maine system. 

The Millay House, 198A Broadway in Rockland, has limited parking and is within walking distance of downtown.

To register for the workshop or for more information on Millay House Rockland, please visit https://millayhouserockland.org/events

Millay House Rockland is a nonprofit organization that champions writers, as well as creators and practitioners of all the arts. It celebrates the legacy of Edna St. Vincent Millay and the rich heritage of Midcoast Maine. Central to the mission is rejuvenating the literary landmark that is the birthplace of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.