Kendra Preston Leonard
Kendra Preston Leonard is a writer and editor whose work includes poetry, song lyrics, opera libretti, and academic studies. Inspired by history, place, and myth, her poetry has appeared in numerous venues including lunch, vox poetica, and The Shakespeare Multiverse. Her chapbook Making Mythology is published by Louisiana Literature Press. You can read her work at https://kendraprestonleonard.hcommons.org/
Kendra's poem “Hecate of the Wild”
I’m not your lover
and I’m not your girl
and I will leave this house for the wood
and there I’ll make myself a place
of timber and branch
and mystery.
All the children shall call me the witch though I haven’t a single spell,
but do walk alone in the night
to watch the bats
go hunting.
I’ll build and build,
my own two hands and a saw,
my own two eyes and a hammer,
and in the spirit-guarded strangler fig, there’s my very own house,
the world turned upside down.
And in this golden, rosy-fingered tree I’ll too be golden, a goddess of the dawn and of stray dogs
and the night
no one’s girl,
a little Hecate of the wild.
I’m not your lover
and I’m not your girl
and I will leave this house for the wood
and there I’ll make myself a place
of timber and branch
and mystery.
All the children shall call me the witch though I haven’t a single spell,
but do walk alone in the night
to watch the bats
go hunting.
I’ll build and build,
my own two hands and a saw,
my own two eyes and a hammer,
and in the spirit-guarded strangler fig, there’s my very own house,
the world turned upside down.
And in this golden, rosy-fingered tree I’ll too be golden, a goddess of the dawn and of stray dogs
and the night
no one’s girl,
a little Hecate of the wild.
Recommended Books for Aspiring Writers
- Matthew Salesses, Craft in the Real World
- Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
- Felicia Rose Chavez, The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop
- Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker
- GennaRose Nethercott, The Lumberjack's Dove
Student Testimonials
"I hadn’t written poetry in more than 6 months. Not because I didn’t have anything to say—but rather, the opposite: I have too much to say, and not enough time to say it. That’s the beauty of short-form poetry—and I can think of no one better than Dr. Kendra Leonard to be your guide into this world.
If you’re like me—an unpracticed, imperfect poet who doesn’t know anything about the mechanics of sonnets or limericks—it can feel super intimidating to step into a poetry workshop. But Dr. Leonard made me feel anything but intimidated. She is kind, encouraging, and takes a gentle, question-led (rather than feedback-led) approach to workshopping poetry.
What’s truly amazing is that she’s helped me turn short-form poetry into a habit. I’ve written a poem every day since taking her workshop. Often, I don’t have a big block of time to sit down and journal out all my thoughts and feelings. Dr. Leonard’s workshop showed me that I can be just as expressive through short-form poetry, and in a fraction of the time.
I’m really excited to take her workshop on ekphrastic writing."
—Daniela Freeman
"This was an awesome workshop and would definitely attend regularly. Instructor was cheerful, encouraging and reassuring. It was a fantastic space to share and open channels for future writing."
––Anonymous
"GEEZ!! I learned so much! I learned incredibly pragmatic methods and techniques to live with, enjoy, embrace, and to set loose my creative spirit."
––Anonymous
"I hadn’t written poetry in more than 6 months. Not because I didn’t have anything to say—but rather, the opposite: I have too much to say, and not enough time to say it. That’s the beauty of short-form poetry—and I can think of no one better than Dr. Kendra Leonard to be your guide into this world.
If you’re like me—an unpracticed, imperfect poet who doesn’t know anything about the mechanics of sonnets or limericks—it can feel super intimidating to step into a poetry workshop. But Dr. Leonard made me feel anything but intimidated. She is kind, encouraging, and takes a gentle, question-led (rather than feedback-led) approach to workshopping poetry.
What’s truly amazing is that she’s helped me turn short-form poetry into a habit. I’ve written a poem every day since taking her workshop. Often, I don’t have a big block of time to sit down and journal out all my thoughts and feelings. Dr. Leonard’s workshop showed me that I can be just as expressive through short-form poetry, and in a fraction of the time.
I’m really excited to take her workshop on ekphrastic writing."
—Daniela Freeman
"This was an awesome workshop and would definitely attend regularly. Instructor was cheerful, encouraging and reassuring. It was a fantastic space to share and open channels for future writing."
––Anonymous
"GEEZ!! I learned so much! I learned incredibly pragmatic methods and techniques to live with, enjoy, embrace, and to set loose my creative spirit."
––Anonymous
Teaching Philosophy
I believe in creating a welcoming, encouraging, safe place for writers to try out new ideas and techniques, to play and to meditate, to explore and discover what works for them and their desire to express themselves through words. Writing is self-empowerment; writing is self-care; writing is endless possibilities.
I believe in creating a welcoming, encouraging, safe place for writers to try out new ideas and techniques, to play and to meditate, to explore and discover what works for them and their desire to express themselves through words. Writing is self-empowerment; writing is self-care; writing is endless possibilities.