Elizabeth Hazen’s new collection, The Sky Will Hold, is now available for pre-order! We interviewed Elizabeth so you can get to know her!
How long did it take you to write The Sky Will Hold? What was your process for pulling it together?
There are a few older poems in The Sky Will Hold, but the majority were written over the course of about four years starting in 2019, soon after I completed my second collection, Girls Like Us. Initially I thought the book would be focused on stepmothers: the history of stepmothers, the portrayal of them in popular culture, and the experiences I was having in that role. Over time, though, I began writing more broadly about parenthood, marriage, letting go of trauma, and redefining one’s purpose in mid-life. Because the poems are largely autobiographical and the collection is a kind of coming-of-age narrative for the middle-aged, I decided to organize the poems to create a narrative arc that shows the speaker’s progression toward greater understanding and self-acceptance as well as a more pronounced appreciation for the many wonders the world has to offer.
What’s a favorite poem from the collection? Why?
The poem “The Deer” is kind of a strange poem, and a bit of a departure for me, so it stands out as a favorite. It personifies anger as a deer in the backyard. I had fun writing it, and whenever I read it, I remember the staring contest I had with a young doe that inspired the poem. That memory makes me happy.
I also am partial to the poem, “Such Wonders”, the last poem in the collection and a late addition to the manuscript. It is a kind of love poem – to my husband, to our resilient bodies, and to the natural world.
What’s your writing routine look like?
I wish I could answer this by saying I have a disciplined routine, but the truthful answer is that I write in fits and starts, jotting down ideas (often while I am out walking) and then coming back to them to draft poems when I have the time and headspace to explore. Early morning is my most productive time, and I do try to carve out writing sessions in those pre-dawn hours.
Who are your favorite poets?
Recently I was absolutely wowed by Dora Malech’s latest collection, Trying x Trying. I’m a big fan of Baltimore-based poet Steven Leyva, and I always enjoy Ada Limón, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Claudia Rankine. Natalie Shapero is also amazing. And Walt Whitman is a constant source of inspiration and hope.
What are you reading right now?
Right now, I’m reading Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World by Padraig O Tuama – a terrific anthology with short essays to go with each poem.
What’s your favorite non-writing activity?
I love walking in the park behind my house.
***
Pre-order Liz’s collection, The Sky Will Hold, books will ship late March!