Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA

Poet • Educator

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Nature of Our Times

Liberty Bell @ Washington Pass

I’m thrilled to have a poem, Into the Rift, in this new anthology, The Nature of Our Times. The website of the same name, originated by the Wick Poetry Center, hosted over 1300 poems and the editors chose a little over 200 for this print edition.

“The Nature of Our Times is a shared initiative, bringing together the joint efforts of Paloma Press, Poets for Science, United By Nature, and Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University, and is made possible with grant support from the Ohio Arts Council, the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and Arts Commission, and the Woodward Foundation. This anthology serves as a companion to the first national assessment of U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife.”

The book features poems from some of the country’s best-known poets, including:

  • Jane Hirshfield
  • Diane Ackerman
  • Camille Dungy
  • Naomi Shihab Nye
  • Arthur Sze

and many more.  Please purchase a copy.

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Photo Poems

I’ve been experimenting with taking photos and writing haikus or prose pieces to accompany them. Here are a few examples.

The Climb

Burnt Totem 

A prickly heart pairs well

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Available to Teach Writing Workshops for Caregivers, Patients, Medical Providers

I am available to teach expressive writing and/or narrative medicine workshops for anyone caring for or living with an ongoing health issue of any sort. (Could also include a visual art component.)

I have nearly 20 years experience in this field, having pioneered some of these writing workshops at Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco Wellness Center for Chronic Conditions, and Richard Hugo House in Seattle to name a few. I also co-chair the Narrative Medicine workgroup at CARRA (Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Association) with Dr. Lanis Levy. I have led workshops for the Cure JM Foundation, the Scleroderma Foundation, Global Genes organization, Virginia Mason Hospital Integrative Medicine Conference, and others. I have been the recipient of artist grants to teach writing/poetry to teens and adults, to medical providers, caregivers and those living with ongoing health issues, and to publish both their writings, visual art, and my own writing.

Workshop Options:

  • 2-3 hours includes readings, writing prompts, time to write, time to share
  • 1.5 hours includes writing prompts, time to write, Visual Art, some sharing time.

Workshop structure is flexible for small groups (5-15 people) or large groups (20-50 people).

Contact me for more information: se*********@***il.com

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Workshop Opportunities: FREE

I will be teaching two workshops online and they are free. Global Genes is sponsoring these and they are open to anyone who is a caregiver of a child living with a chronic illness.

Coping Skills for Caregivers to Help Kids Living with a Chronic Illness—April 11, 12 noon PDT / 3 pm EDT

Everything changes for the whole family when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness. Learn how you can help kids manage appointments, big emotions & social relationships. Learn when it is important to get extra, outside help and support and remember, siblings will also need understanding and support. We will touch on anxiety and depression, recognizing it and finding help.

Registration here.

Coping Skills for Caregivers–May 9, 12 noon PDT / 3 pm EDT

Everything changes for the whole family when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness.  You need to “fill your own well” in order to keep helping others. Learn how to assess what you need as a caregiver and how to help yourself while helping others.

Registration here.