Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claire Coenen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Claire, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
This is such a big question, but it feels important to think about. One of the first things that comes to mind is that I want to be remembered for someone who spent her life “living the questions” (to borrow from one of my favorite poets, Rainer Maria Rilke)—and especially living the questions connected to beauty, truth, and love. I’m also going to borrow from another one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, because she has a way of responding to big questions, including this one about legacy. I’d love to be remembered as someone “married to amazement” and who “made of my life something particular, and real.” I also hope people will remember me as someone who sought out and shared a lot joy and laughter. My dad always, says “you gotta laugh in this life,” and those words have become one of my life mantras!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Yes! I’m a poet, social worker, and yoga teacher based in Nashville, TN. I recently stepped away from my job as a psychotherapist to work on a book of poetry and to facilitate therapeutic writing workshops. Leaving my work as a therapist and saying goodbye to my clients was difficult, but I ultimately knew I needed to give myself the time and space to pursue writing.
I’m excited to share my first book, The Beautiful Keeps Breathing, a collection of poems will be published by Kelsay Books in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned for where and when to buy the book…and how to find me on my book tour!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
There are a few online groups for poets I wish I had connected with earlier!
Two Sylvia’s Press has an incredible newsletter (https://twosylviaspress.substack.com/subscribe) and writing community specifically for poets, which I would recommended for anyone seeking more resources around craft, publishing, etc.
Poetry of Resilience (https://www.thepoetryofresilience.com/ ) and James Crews’s Weekly Pause are two other wonderful online writing communities.
For anyone living in Nashville, The Porch (https://www.porchtn.org/) is an incredible hub for writers and anyone who loves the written word!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It is incredibly rewarding to me when other people feel less alone in their suffering and more connected to their inherent value, either through reading my work or during a writing workshop I’m leading. I’ve found that sharing poems and encouraging other people to write and share their own stories creates this beautiful web of connection. I really believe that every person has a creative essence. Tapping into that intrinsic creativity and finding language for painful experiences can transform lives. I find a lot of joy when I can be part of fostering someone’s healing or growth through the written word.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clairecoenen.com
- Instagram: claire.coenen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094608313921
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-coenen-779b7b130/
Image Credits
Rebekah Ballesteros Davey Douglas