Lynda La Rocca is a New York City-born poet and freelance writer who has also worked as a reporter for the Asbury Park (NJ) Press and a teaching assistant at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado.

Her four poetry chapbooks include The Stillness Between (2009, Pudding House Publications), Spiral (2012, Liquid Light Press), and Unbroken (2023, Kelsay Books); her individual poems have appeared in such publications as The New York Quarterly; THINK: A Journal of Poetry, Fiction, and Essays; Stone Gathering: A Reader; and Encore (National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc.).  Read more ⟶

When did you begin writing poetry?

I wrote my first poem when I was in second grade. And I still remember it:

When I was walking down the street
I saw a turtle at my feet.
He was in flowers
That were near some towers.

I always loved rhyme and rhythm and was obsessed with song lyrics as a child. I had (and still have) a great memory, and I’d memorize songs I’d hear on the radio, which I thought was easy because the lines all flowed and rhymed. I also wrote short, short stories. I just loved putting words to paper; I was very shy and introverted and writing allowed me to express myself in ways that I never could verbally. A couple of years later, though, I pretty much lost interest in poetry—until . . . and that leads directly to question #2.

What triggered your interest in creating poems?

In my sophomore year in college, my roommate and dearest friend was constantly writing poems. She’d be scribbling between classes and sitting up in bed at night to write some more. I saw how completely absorbed June became while writing and how much she was enjoying herself and thought, this looks like fun; I’m going to try it, too. And the rest, as they say, is history!! 😉 Seriously, I rediscovered through June how much I loved the written word (this was before there was anything called “spoken word”). I even changed my major to English. Although I didn’t write poetry steadily until I was in my late 20s, I’d found my perfect fit. 

Who are your favorite poets?

There are so many outstanding poets in this world—I feel like I’m always discovering work by a poet who was previously unknown to me and marveling at how much talent is out there (and how little I know even when I think I know something about poetry)—that it’s hard to choose a favorite or favorites. But since I need to narrow it down here, I’d say Sylvia Plath because—well, how could anyone not be awed by her work? It’s so astounding and genuine, cut-to-the-bone deep, insightful, and fearless. I also love Mary Oliver and Billy Collins for many reasons but one is their amazing ability to be accessible, no matter what subject or theme they’re tackling. They can, and do, speak to everyone, including those who say they “don’t get” poetry. And I do love W. H. Auden:

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

God, I wish I could have written that. But since I didn’t, I’m so glad he did.

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Poets & Patrons was founded in 1954. It is dedicated to supporting poetry development in the Chicagoland area. It does this through sponsoring and hosting congenial, professional workshops at The Harold Washington Library; running an annual Chicagoland Poetry Contest with modest cash awards for multiple categories; facilitating free writing workshops at area museums and outdoor venues (Write! Chicago); and an annual Awards Ceremony. Poets & Patrons is an excellent vehicle for defining your work, meeting with other fine poets for unique critiques, and exploring with others the power of well-crafted verse.

We meet in workshops four times a year and have started a series of meetings called Write! Chicago, where poets gather in a specific Chicago location and write afterwards. The workshops are designed to increase skill in writing both traditional and non-traditional poetry.  We also sponsor 2 contests each year.  Please see our Contest page for more information.

Unless otherwise noted, the workshops will be in room 6-N on the third floor of the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois. 

Poets & Patrons evolved from a common desire to promote a meeting ground for poets and poet enthusiasts in the Chicago area.  Learn more ⟶