Carrying the Elephant

Michael Rosen

From Shelf: My Books 2002

In 72 prose poems Michael Rosen tells the story of a life: growing up with Jewish Communist parents in north London, strange trips to eastern Europe during the Cold War, and trainee days at the BBC. At the book's core is the tragic death of his 18-year-old son.

dear joe, your wild noisy huge brother is dead. I couldn't do what my parents did: bring two boys, four years apart, through the maze. In 72 prose-poems Michael Rosen tells the story of a life: growing up with Jewish Communist parents in north London, strange trips to eastern Europe during the Cold War, trainee days at the BBC under the watchful eye of MI6, etc. But the core of the book is about the central calamity in Rosen's life: the totally unexpected death of his 18-year-old son from meningitis one night. Unflinching, totally lacking in mawkishness or self-pity, these are brilliant pieces that show the process of grieving and memory in wonderfully memorable ways.

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