Carrying the Elephant : A Memoir of Love and Loss

by Michael Rosen

In 72 prose-poems Michael Rosen tells the story of a life: his left-wing Jewish upbringing, with baffling childhood trips to Trafalgar Square, eastern Europe and hospital, followed by trainee days at the BBC under the watchful eyes of MI5, breakdown of a marriage, development of a new relationship and the joy of a new baby. And, in a core series of pieces, the central calamity of his life: the sudden death from meningitis of his 18 year-old son. "Rather you than me", said one of the neighbours on hearing the news - a remark that Rosen records, as he does much else to do with death, with surprised, painful honesty.

Genres: Poetry

83 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2002

About the author

Michael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Anna Badman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My class was read ‘Eddie and the Chocolate Cake’ and ‘Eddie and the nappy’ from ‘ Quick let’s get out of here,’ by the inimitable Mrs Malpass at junior school. I’ve loved poetry since then, probably because of then. A lot of Rosen’s poetry is just so relatable - the temptation of the cake - just having the icing and then before you know it… gone. I can’t believe the same Eddie’s life just ended as it did. The weight of grief and having to deal with people’s empty and unsatisfactory words and comments and just plain lack of empathy and understanding comes through in the poems. The phrasing of the earlier poems in the book makes them feel like overheard conversations. And the case of the Chanel no 5 seller on Oxford Street had me feeling Michael Rosen and Joe Lycett would enjoy each others’ company!!

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving prose-poems about Rosen's life, with a particular (but far from exclusive) focus on the death of his son. Easy to read and interesting poetically as well as for content.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. A beautifully controlled memoir through the medium of prose poetry.

[Katrine Solvaag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful collection of poetry that both baffles and breakers the heart.