Hannah Rousselot : part five

Why is poetry important?

Poetry is accessible. When I taught second grade, I taught a poetry unit. My students who had the most trouble with writing loved poetry. It provided an “in” for writing that didn’t necessitate complete sentences. They could just write what was important to them.

That's what's incredible about poetry- it’s life, distilled to its most evocative parts. It is a moment, a feeling, a person, refined into its most essential form. Every word is carefully chosen. Everything you read has been curated to describe something indescribable. I am constantly amazed by poets and language- despite it being such a precise art form, it always evokes something different for each person.

Hannah Rousselot : part four

What other poetry books have you been reading lately?

I’ve been reading contemporary poets! I write reviews of contemporary poetry books on hannahrousselot.com/reviews and I discuss those same books on my podcast, Poetry Aloud. Some recent books I’ve loved are Fierce Aria by Maxima Kahn, Knock Off Monarch by Crystal Stone, and Glorious Veils of Diane by Rainie Oet. 

Hannah Rousselot : part three

What do you find most difficult about writing poetry?

The hardest thing for me is to avoid my own cliches. I tend to write with the same themes: the ocean, the body, nature. I’ve been trying to move away from those comparisons, to find new ways to engage with the language of the world. I want to expand my practice, to push myself further and further. I don’t want to stay in my comfort zone; I want to continually move forward and thicken my experience of life and poetry (they’re the same, after all).

Hannah Rousselot : part two

How did you first engage with poetry?

I’ve always loved writing. I started by writing stories with friends or in my personal journals. When I was young, my hamster died. It was difficult, and the way that I dealt with those emotions was to write a poem. I submitted it to the school magazine but they said it was too sad to publish! Luckily professional magazines have no such reservations.

I’ve been writing poetry ever since then. Poetry is a way for me to engage with my own feelings, for me to honor myself and my experiences. Poetry always allows me to connect with others, to give them an insight into my world. I’ve learned so much about others after they’ve read my poems; hearing what resonated with them is a gift. 

Hannah Rousselot : part one

Hannah Rousselot (she/her) is a queer French-American poet, writer, and educator. Her poetry has appeared in many publications, including Parentheses Magazine, The McNeese Review, The Blue Nib, and The Broadkill Review. She has published two long works, Fragments of You (Kelsay Press) and Ocean Currents (Finishing Line Press). She also reviews other poet's works on hannahrousselot.com and is the host of Poetry Aloud. You can follow her work on facebook.com/hmrpoetry or @hannahrousselot, or hannahrousselot.com.

What are you working on?

Right now, I’m trying to write a book about love. I’ve written about grief- Fragments of You- and I’ve written about my struggle and triumphs with mental illness in Ocean Currents. My life has changed quite a lot in the past couple of years, and I want to highlight the love in my life- the love I receive and the love I give to others and myself. I’m eager to add this new perspective to my life. It took me a long time to accept myself, and now I am moving forward to love myself. This has allowed me to love others more completely, and I cannot wait to celebrate that.