Perhaps one of the greatest lessons 2020 taught us was the importance of forgiving ourselves and allowing the space to rest and recover. Laurie Rosen discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Most folks in the town try to maintain social distancing protocol and wear masks when venturing outside but there are many that do not. Schools are back in a hybrid situation and there are areas of town that masks are required.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, What You Have Heard Is True by Carolyn Forche, and The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“Schitt's Creek,” “Better Things,” and “Mozart in the Jungle.” For podcasts, I listen to “The On Being Project” and “The New Abnormal.”
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
I've been writing and rewriting. At times I get flooded with thoughts and need to rush to get them down. Not everyday is productive and there is a lot of wasted time following the insanity of our world and its politics but I've learned to forgive myself.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
Yes, I've been writing quite a bit. I would like to put together a chap book of poems that all take place in Vermont, where I have had a home for 31 years.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I have taken several poetry classes and I meet weekly via Zoom with a group of poets I met while taking a class last April. We critique each other's work and share thoughts on the pandemic and politics. I also attend via Zoom a monthly poetry salon offered through our local library.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I have a spot by windows in my bedroom. I was writing in my kitchen but the past few months this spot in my bedroom serves me well. It's quiet, sunny and uncluttered.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
1.) “Under the Table” by Fiona Apple
2.) “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” by Fiona Apple
3.) “ Spain” by Chick Corea
4.) “Hope is a Dangerous Thing” by Lana Del Rey
5) “Once in a life time” by Talking Heads.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite poem you've written since the pandemic began?
I am very happy with a poem I wrote in the form of a Triolet. It imagines Trump as rooster. A local journal published it along with an Auditory Esphrasis I wrote that imagined the day after the election.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
I'm hoping I will get to see my son who lives across the country from me. My daughter lives closer and I will see her and her husband in December.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Keep reading, writing and revising. And never stop learning.
ABOUT Laurie Rosen
Laurie Rosen is a lifelong New Englander. Her poems appeared in Sisyphus, Tigershark Magazine, The London Reader, The Muddy River Poetry Review, Beach Reads, an anthology from Third Street Writers, Peregrine, and Oddball Magazine.
Thanks for chatting, Laurie!
