Roethke Poetry Retreat
May 8- 10, 2026 • Montague Inn, Saginaw, MI
“This is My Letter to the World”: The Art of the Letter/The Letter Poem
3rd Annual Roethke Poetry Retreat
A three-day writing retreat with poet Anita Skeen & special guest Jane Taylor.
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The Roethke Poetry Retreat is back for 2026. We have once again reserved the Montague Inn and the Roethke House Museum for our exclusive use for the three-day weekend where you might write at the family’s original dining table where sister June typed Ted’s manuscripts, or take in the view from the sleeping porch where he spent summer nights. And you may find creative inspiration on the grounds of the historic Montague Inn’s serene and natural six acres that reach the banks of Lake Linton and the Saginaw River on Ojibway Island. Registration also includes dinner Saturday night followed by a poetry performance.
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From the Stone Age, to the Agrarian Age, to the Industrial Age, to the Information Age, we are now living in a time when most people communicate by email, tweets, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
What has happened to the letter, beautiful handwriting, on beautiful paper, sealed with wax and stamped with images from Christmas trees to Haida ravens to Zora Neale Hurston?
The epistle form dates back to verse letters in the Roman Empire and became a popular form in 20th century poetry. Letters, and letter poems, can be personal or political, intimate or formal. They can profess love, argue a position, apologize for an indiscretion, announce an arrival. In short, letters can be written to anybody about anything.
In this weekend workshop we will look at the art of the letter and the letter poem, creating letters/poems that can be sent (or not), can reveal secrets (or not), can suggest a different perspective on events of the past (or not). Feel free to bring stationary, envelopes, pens or whatever you would like on which to write your poems and letters. Emily Dickinson wrote, “This is my letter to the World/that never wrote to Me.” Let us write letters to the World and encourage the World to write back.
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Friday night: Picnic at the Roethke House and first workshop.
Saturday: Workshops, small group discussions, and free writing time. Dinner and performance.
Sunday: Group reading and wrap up.
Select a room to see the total price for your two night stay. Visit the Montague Inn for complete room descriptions. The Inn is only open to retreat participants this weekend, so please be sure to register for the event in addition to reserving a room.
If you are interested in attending but the cost is prohibitive, please email us at info@friendsofroethke.org.
This event is made possible through a partnership between the Friends of Theodore Roethke Foundation and Wheelbarrow Books, an imprint of the RCAH Center for Poetry with publication and distribution by MSU Press.
Retreat Package Includes:
Friday night picnic at the Roethke House
Roethke welcome from Annie Ransford, Roethke Foundation founder
Three poetry workshops, one small group critique, and final reading
Private writing time at the Montague Inn and at Theodore Roethke’s historic childhood home
Lunch and dinner on Saturday
Reading/performance featuring Anita Skeen and a Guest Poet
One year membership to the Friends of Roethke Foundation and a commemorative gift
Optional breakfast at the Montague Inn Saturday & Sunday (additional charge paid at the hotel, per person, per day).
Planning to attend from out of town? As all-inclusive package at the Montague Inn is sold out, we recommend booking your accomodations at the Four Points by Sheraton Saginaw.
Library at the Montague Inn (with a secret room behind the bookcases)
Private writing time at the Theodore Roethke Childhood Home Museum
The Montague Inn is situated on six acres that reach the banks of Lake Linton and the Saginaw River on Ojibway Island.
Please email us at info@friendsofroethke.org with any questions.