The "volta"--also known as "the turn"--is something we associate with the traditional sonnet form. But it has been used with great success by manycontemporary poets writing both formal and free verse poems. Marking a shift in the poem’s tone, subject or logic, the volta has been compared to a change of key in music. In this workshop, we will explore how turning your attention in a new direction can open up a poem, allowing it to leap to another level of significance or meaning.