Sleepy-eyed, I arrived in Jordan just before midnight: Picking up the rental car, the agent mumbled (咕哝) something about a gas station. Trying to stay _______, I really didn’t pay attention.

The next morning, I headed the desert castle excitedly. While driving, I noticed that there wasn’t a fuel gauge (指示器) on the dashboard. That was _______, but I didn’t think twice about it. I had just got the rental so there would be plenty of fuel.

After passing numerous gas stations, I was finally in the open desert. Complete _______. And that’s when my car suddenly came to a stop.

What? In the middle of nowhere, I stared at the engine with no idea what to do. _______ seized me.

Within 10 minutes, a Jordanian _______. He didn’t speak English and my Arabic was limited. After _______ my car, he told me through hand gestures that I was out of gas. Who knew that rental cars didn’t come with a full tank of gas there?!

The man _______ me to get in his car and drove to the nearest gas station to get extra petrol. We then got back to my car to put the gas in.

When I pulled out my wallet to pay him, he refused. My thanks, a smile, and one photo together were all he wanted. Before we fully _______, he even followed me a bit to ensure that I was safely on my way even though it was not getting late.

Today, whenever I think of Jordan, this memory _______ comes to mind, and my heart swells with gratitude. It is the stranger who saved my trip and reminded me of the importance of ________.

Our teen poetry workshops at Poets House are opportunities for writers in high school to create and explore poetry in one of the largest poetry libraries in the country. Young poets are given a chance to dig into the art and craft of poetry in a fun, creative and inspiring environment.

Join Dave Johnson Workshop

Join Dave Johnson Workshop to write daily new poems in only 10 minutes. Click the banner for two series of video poetry workshops where poet, playwright and educator Dave Johnson chooses a poet each day, and takes us through a close reading of their work. He gives us an instruction based on their work, then a short biography and reads an additional poem. These workshops are fun and surprising, for teens through adults, free.

The Thompson Foundation Initiative

The highlight of our teen poetry workshop program is the Thompson Foundation Initiative, through which noted poets visit high school classrooms followed by free follow-up class visits to Poets House. Recent teachers have included Dave Johnson, Jive Poetic, and Mahogany Browne. This initiative is meant to increase access to poetic education for under served schools and students by combining hands-on instruction from established poets with on-site visits to our extensive library. Students engage with poetry through reading, writing, and art projects that integrate the visual and linguistic.

If you are a teacher interested in this program, please reach out to Reggie Harris to arrange sessions for your class. Free class trips for all age levels are also available outside of this program.

Intensive Workshops for Teens

Advanced, individualized study is available periodically for students who want to continue writing poetry, through either our day-long or week-long intensive workshops.

·One-day workshops: Participation is free. All interested teens are encouraged to sign up.

·Week-long workshops: Participants are determined through an application process and an external judge; all interested high school students are encouraged to apply. Financial aid is available.