Creating Critical Research Poetry critically engages with the ways in which researchers can poetically approach textual representations that narrate the unnarratable and contest the uncontested.This text provides a rich path for early research poets to engage with and bloom and established research poets to dig deeper and flourish.

Connections to literary poetry and critical social science theories are detailed. First-person poetic accounts where poets describe early fruitful engagement with poetic forms are highlighted. Free verse, formed poetry, and dimensional poems (e.g. concrete poetry) are covered in depth, with guidance for developing a poetic sensibility and honing research poetry craft. Poetic experiences are integrated throughout the book, which may be engaged with individually, as a group, and in virtual or face-to-face courses.

Each chapter provides reflexive questions for the reader to engage with in their own journal writings, a poem creation exercise, and further poetic resources. Set within critical theories, Creating Critical Research Poetry provides a context for early research poets, and thought-provoking possibilities for seasoned research poets. This is the perfect entry point to this burgeoning field of critical inquiry and qualitative research.

Maria K. E. Lahman (she, her, hers) is a professor of qualitative methodology at the University of Northern Colorado, in Colorado, USA. She is the author of multiple research textbooks, articles, and poems. A Mennonite, Maria challenges herself to weave aspects of social justice and peacebuilding into her pedagogy and scholarship. Maria’s scholarship is focused on creating ethical solutions for culturally complex methodological situations, diversity, young children, mothering, and qualitative writing representation.