“In the end, the poem is not a thing we see; it is, rather, a light by which we may see – and what we see is life.” – Robert Penn Warren (poet, novelist, literary critic)
The date was March 13th, 2020, as myself and other retirees were set to take the stage in our Florida condominium complex’s annual musical. We had just completed dress rehearsal when, on the morning of opening night, it was announced that everything was shutting down within the hour. There would be no show that evening or any evening in the foreseeable future – the COVID-19 pandemic had officially arrived.
Fear quickly spread through our retirement community with rumours flying, though few real answers to be found.
Within hours, our once-active community became completely isolated and I quickly knew I couldn’t spend my days just watching the news; I needed something to keep me grounded. So, I started writing poetry. What started as an exercise for my own inner calm, spread to friends and family on Facebook. The response was immediate and touching with many sharing that my words helped them through the very difficult time.
With help from my youngest daughter, we decided to publish the poems. That’s how Poetry of the Pandemic was born.
Now, five years later, I’ve written nearly 400 poems, collected in three books: Poetry of the Pandemic (2020), Musings on a Life Well Lived (2022), and, the newly released, The Future Awaits Us (2025). Together, they form my poetry trilogy and my legacy.
Readers often tell me my poetry helps them feel understood, like they’re walking beside me and seeing through my eyes. That empathy is what I’ve always hoped to share.
I’m thrilled to announce that The Future Awaits Us is now available for purchase, with proceeds going to benefit the Never Alone Cancer Foundation (NACF). Being able to contribute to NACF is more than just a distant admiration for the organization; it’s supporting what has been an inspiration in the lives of me & my family since my cancer diagnosis back in 2018.
Sincerely,
Laurie Fischer
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