Elizabeth Anne Schwartz
TURNEY TALKS TO: Elizabeth Anne Schwartz
Rachel: Ave Marianna is your debut poetry collection. What can readers expect to see in this collection and how did you choose a publisher? Tell us a bit about the book journey!
Elizabeth Anne Schwartz: Ave Marianna has been a journey in more ways than one. First, writing this collection helped me to come to terms with my Catholic upbringing, and make sense of the dueling love and anger I felt toward my faith. This collection of poems gave me space to process my frustration and grief; find unexpected parallels between Catholicism and Paganism; and reconnect to meaningful parts of myself and my spirituality.
Second, the road to publication has been longer and more winding than anticipated. My publisher (who I was drawn to for their witchy, feminist vibes, which so perfectly mirrored this collection) went on an unexpected hiatus just months before my original release date. The path forward is still unclear, but I know Ave Marianna will make its way into the world when the timing is right.
In the meantime, here’s a sneak peak at my introductory poem, “Tabernacle,” which sets the stage for the themes explored in this collection:
Tabernacle
It would be rose gold,
silk-lined,
and I would press its key
under my tongue,
unlock it in the silence
of less holy days.
Inside, my keepsakes:
a lock of dark hair
that could be mine
but has her scent.
A coin aged and worn enough
to have been warmed
by Sappho’s palm.
A poem I wrote
without knowing
which part of me was speaking.
And a statue of the Virgin,
tiny Mary in blue
that I can’t bear
to keep in sight
or cast aside,
Holy Mother
of so many parts of me.
Rachel: Well, it’s best not to rush things. I learned that this past year in the publishing world. The right things happen at the right time.
Rachel: In 2023 Tiny Wren published your tiny chapbook “Nine Stages of Coming Out.” What was the process like of writing micro-poems and how did you choose the pieces for this collection?
Elizabeth Anne Schwartz: As an introvert who prefers listening to speaking, I’ve always loved saying a lot with just a little: choosing the perfect word or phrase to express an image or idea. So when I heard about Tiny Wren’s micro-poetry chapbook contest, I knew I had to enter! Their word and line limits were surprisingly challenging, and showed me how impactful tiny bursts of poetry can be.
Nine Stages of Coming Out explores the process of coming to terms with your sexuality later in life. I loved using the micro-poetry format to give my readers glimpses into my emotions and experiences, from curiosity, to guilt, to a sense of wonder and wholeness. My Pushcart Prize nominated poem “Introduction” uses garden imagery to frame the coming out process as a series of slow, cautious steps and epiphanies:
Introduction
Coming out
is not one act—
it’s unlocking the door,
stepping tenderly
into the garden.
Crying in
fresh-turned soil
until you’re aware
of the scent of roses.
Rachel: Yes, the Tiny Wren call with the specific small format guidelines can be quite difficult! I am joining you over at Tiny Wren in February 2027 with a micro-collection. Similar to yours, mine is about identity. Late congrats on your Pushcart Nomination as well! I look forward to reading Ave Marianna when she is introduced to the world!
