Beloved poet and author Michael Rosen joins the host to discuss how writing can help after trauma, how performing poetry for children shaped his work, and the power of plain language to express great emotion.
Plain, understated language can express great emotion and capture profound experiences.
Writing can be a therapeutic tool for processing grief and finding solace and healing after trauma.
Working with children and incorporating elements of performance in writing can enhance engagement and resonance with young readers.
Deep dives
The Power and Inadequacy of Words
In this podcast episode, Michael Rosen discusses how sometimes words feel inadequate to express certain profound emotions. He shares his personal experience of feeling a sense of inadequacy of language when trying to articulate his grief after his son's death. However, he also mentions how he found inspiration in the simplicity and directness of writers like Raymond Carver, who could convey deep emotions using plain language. Rosen highlights the power of ordinary language to express complex emotions and the therapeutic value of finding the right words to bring order and release to overwhelming feelings.
Writing as a Healing Process
Michael Rosen talks about the therapeutic value of writing, particularly in the context of recovery. After a period of not being able to write following his son's death, he found solace and healing in the act of writing again. Rosen explains how writing became a way for him to process and make sense of his emotions. He discusses how, through writing poems and journal entries, he was able to give voice to his experiences and express his grief in a way that resonated with others. Writing became a lifeline and a way to navigate through difficult times.
The Poignant Voices of Nurses
Another significant aspect discussed in the podcast is how Michael Rosen was deeply moved by the letters and messages from nurses who cared for him during his battle with COVID-19. He reflects on the profound humanity and kindness expressed in their words, especially considering the extreme circumstances and the closeness to life and death. Rosen emphasizes the therapeutic value of sharing and recording these powerful messages and the privilege he felt in being able to convey and celebrate the voices of these working-class heroes. Their words became a testament to their compassion, leaving a lasting impact on Rosen.
Influences of working with children
Working closely with children has changed the way Michael Rosen writes. Initially, he wrote poems about himself, not realizing they would resonate with children. However, after performing his poems to them, he discovered which ones they enjoyed the most. This interaction with children and their positive response influenced his writing style, leading him to incorporate elements of performance into his work. He observed comedians like Billy Connolly and Jasper Carrott and learned how they engaged with audiences, inspiring him to create stories and poems that could be performed and enjoyed by children.
The impact of performance on writing
Michael Rosen's experience as a performer has significantly influenced his writing style. He recalls a pivotal moment when performing his poems to a large group of children. Initially reserved and reading from behind a book, a teacher in the audience took charge and animatedly performed the poem, captivating the crowd. This incident made Rosen realize the power of combining performance and writing. He found that aligning his words, voice, and physicality created a unique connection with his audience. Rosen's performance-based approach expanded his writing repertoire, allowing him to write pieces meant to be performed and actively engage readers.
In this final episode of the season, recorded in February 2023, I'm joined by the beloved poet and author Michael Rosen. Known equally for humorous children's verse and his poetry and prose for adults, Michael's books for kids include We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake, Michael Rosen's Sad Book and Jelly Boots, Smelly Boots. He's also written a number of more grown-up books, including Many Different Kinds of Love and the memoir Getting Better, about healing and recovery. In recent years he's written and spoken about his experience of spending seven weeks in intensive care with Covid-19, at the peak of the pandemic. In this conversation, we talk about how writing can help us after trauma; how performing poetry for children shaped his work; and how plain, understated language can express great emotion.
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This season of In Writing is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Use code INWRITING20 for £20 off one of their four, five, six, or ten-week online writing courses. Visit https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk to find out more.
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