Carrying the Elephant

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.