Michael Rosen, the beloved children's author and poet, turns 80 this year. Known for classics like 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', his viral YouTube videos, and his advocacy for literacy and the NHS, Rosen answered questions from readers, friends, and fellow writers about grief, creativity, and chocolate cake.
When poet Roger McGough asked whether he prefers asking or answering questions, Rosen said: 'Probably asking. I always worry if I’m answering questions I’m being boring. It feels quite exciting if you ask questions.' He added that writing itself is about asking questions: 'What’s the next word? What’s the next phrase?'
Reflecting on how he became a children's writer, Rosen told Guardian reader Nabiha that his first poetry collection, 'Mind Your Own Business', was originally intended for adults. When no publisher was interested, someone suggested he try publishing it for children.
Professor Hugh Montgomery, who treated Rosen for Covid-19, asked how joy and humour are sustained in the face of loss. Rosen replied: 'I’ve arrived at a point where I think life is absurd... There’s no difference: the silly stuff’s no different from the tragic stuff. That’s not to trivialise it... when you explore absurdity, you find that it’s actually wonderfully complex and profound.'
On hope in turbulent times, Rosen cited the final lines of Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est', which reject the lie that it is sweet to die for one's country. 'I take hope from the fact he had that spirit... we can use and take somebody like Owen and share that with each other. Because, in the end, the only thing that will stop this terrible stuff happening is people collectively preventing it.'
For his ideal 80th birthday dinner, Rosen would invite Kafka, Langston Hughes, and Shakespeare. 'That’d be an interesting chat, wouldn’t it?' he said. 'From Shakespeare, I want to find out: “Did you write all those plays?”'
