The poet, broadcaster and children’s author Michael Rosen contracted Covid-19 a year ago and spent 48 days in intensive care. His new collection of prose poems attempts to make sense of that time. Here’s a piece in today’s Guardian about him:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/13/michael-rosen-this-book-is-about-what-it-feels-like-to-nearly-die?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Things feel a tiny bit more like normal here in my Manhattan neighborhood. Parts of the city’s business districts are hurting still and near empty. Broadway is still dark. But schools are opening up more. I went a 1/2 block from my apartment to get some Chinese takeout tonight. First time in a year I was moved to do it. I find on my daily exercise walk I’m venturing further like I used to. I went by a movie theater today that had just reopened. The Irish pub near the Chinese place has set up a beautiful enclosed outdoor space. I got my first shot last week just up the street.

This is a short video about the magic of reading. Described by 10 writers. Don’t be confused by ‘Louisiana’. It’s the name of a museum in Denmark. Its youtube channel is wonderful. Here it is:

https://youtu.be/YV7lf0nov8M

 

EARLIER BIRD

I have to

do the numbers 

when I swing

my legs out

from under the covers and

put my feet

on the floor

looking around at the dark

to justify

getting up and starting

my day at 

4 o’clock.

But I do the numbers

and 9 o’clock till 4 

is enough 

and I say fuckit out loud 

and

get up

kind of excited to

get another day

going.