A persona poem is one given in the first person, in a character's voice - real or fictional. This form offers a powerful way to bring a reader face-to-face with a voice, without the intermediary of narration. We'll take an in-depth look at works by Gwendolyn Brooks, Tyehimba Jess, Rita Dove, and others who have used it to great effect, and we'll work with writing prompts, with an option to share with the group. We'll also discuss why it's important to navigate carefully when writing persona poems to avoid co-opting or erasing real-life voices that need to be heard.