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The Corona Collection is a book of poems, distributed free to all Year 6 pupils in Enfield; a collection of digital resources to help children through the pandemic and afterwards; and a live poetry reading in front of Enfield Town library on 20th August; but, first and foremost, it's a 'con-verse-ation' between poet Cheryl Moskowitz and local children, parents and school staff.

The Corona Collection grew out of a concern for the mental health and wellbeing of children amid the restrictions caused by the pandemic. Driven by the urgency of the situation, Cheryl set out to create a new poetry collection drawn directly from children’s experiences. She set up (socially-distanced) pavement interviews with children, then went into primary and secondary schools to conduct interviews with children of key workers, their parents and school teachers, as well as site managers, administrators and cleaners.

To start the conversation Cheryl wrote a poem called Just supposing:

 

Just supposing… you woke up tomorrow and there weren’t all these rules like YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME! and YOU CAN’T GO TO SCHOOL! And whatever you wished for; where to go, what to do, who to be with, how many; was all up to you. Where would it be, doing what, and with whom? Would you go to the park or fly up to the moon? You could go on a picnic or stay in your room. If you woke up tomorrow, restrictions all lifted, what kind of a world would you want to be gifted?

 

The poems in the book reflect the answers that Cheryl received to the questions posed by Just suppose, making the Corona Collection a record of this extraordinary, unprecedented experience viewed from the perspective of children.

In response to the book a Year 2 pupil wrote this:

 

I have been locked down My school has been locked down My town has been locked down My world has been locked down. Fortunately, I have lots of games at home I have a nice view from my window I have my mummy and daddy to play with However, I am sad I feel bored I feel lonely I think about my friends About how much I miss them About life before lockdown Coronavirus and protest around the world I am grateful that my life is full of love.