Featured Writer

Roseanna Ellis

Writing Workshop Participant at Independent Living Resources - Adults with physical and mental disabilities

Roseanna Ellis was born in Portland in 1950. She grew up around 22nd and Lovejoy, “before the hospital started building on top of old houses.” She attended Lincoln High School and went to Portland State, where she received a BA in Foreign Languages, focusing on French and Italian. Biking was her main hobby, which she used to help raise money for the American Lung Association by taking part in their Seattle to Westport Bike Trek (about 100 miles), not once, but three times. She had a career in the banking industry for 24 years, working in various capacities, beginning with First National, then for whomever the most recent buyer was, ending with Wells Fargo for 10 years. She pinpoints the turn of the century as being when her luck changed. She became very ill, lost a leg, and then her job.

Roseanna's spirits keep high, however, due to what seems an undefeatable optimism. She hopes to one day learn to ride her bike with her prosthetic, while in the mean time she puts that energy into swimming. Her love of languages continues as she is currently trying to teach herself Japanese.

Roseanna's writing, featured in our newest anthology, and interview follow. She is pictured, right, reading her poem at Write Around Portland's anthology release party.

Decisions on a Tuesday Morning

by Roseanna Ellis

It’s another Tuesday morning, and off to work

I’m not going. . . not that I want to shirk

But no one wants to let me do anything.

I’m supposed to see a job developer today

but I don’t know what to bring –

Just the Labor Market Surveys, I guess.

Maybe they’ll mean more to her

Than they did to me – it seems silly

To call someone just to ask what a job

is like, when I want to ask for a job!

“Just a general survey?”

It’s another Tuesday morning, and I’m tired

Of being broke.

Disability may pay the rent,

But what about medicine and doctor bills?

And certainly not food – Maybe

I should call the American Diabetes Association:

Can they tell me how to eat a balanced

Diabetes diet – on TEN DOLLARS A MONTH

Food Stamp money? And clothing?

I haven’t bought any clothes for two years!

It’s another Tuesday morning, and I’ve got

Nothing to wear! And if my prosthesis wears out,

I won’t be able to walk! Then how will I go to work?

If my medicine runs out, I’ll be dead!

Then how will I go to work? Of course,

I’d have plenty of money if it weren’t for paying rent –

Maybe I should live under the bridge – or in the woods –

Or under a boxcar. . . Then I could have a big dog

for a companion, for protection, for privacy. . .

It’s another Tuesday morning, and if I lived

Under a boxcar, Hey, no more housework!

When it gets dirty, just move to a new boxcar –

Or they probably move boxcars often anyway. . .

I should carry my suitcase on my walker,

And pull my wheelchair along behind. . .

Maybe I could get tips on the street?

Or maybe I’d just tip over. . .

I could bathe in the public fountains,

And sit in a nice warm mall all day

And go to work at night in a warm safe office –

No rent, no electricity, no telephone bills!

I should be able to manage just fine!

But when it’s another Tuesday morning

I don’t know what I’d tell my relatives

When they want to write, or call, or visit:

Guess I’d have to get a post office box –

Could I use my old street address, and

Get forwarded? And would that work as well

For the IRS???

It’s another Tuesday morning, and

I’m not going yet. . .

Interview with featured writer Roseanna Ellis

Interviewer & Biography Writer - Joe Lino, Write Around Portland volunteer

Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop.

It was a good workshop, I never did anything like that. I hadn’t shown other people my writing since high school. I met some really nice people from all over Portland. I think it was good for me.

What did you get out of the workshop?

Well, I got a lot of poems out of it!

Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop?

Yes, off and on, poems and stories. Well, I tried to write stories. Poetry seems easier to me. Writing prose reminds me of writing term papers.

How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories?

Really interesting. It was fun comparing your style to other people’s styles, how people could write such different things from the same prompt. You wind up getting to know people through their writing. The people who write nice poems, the people who write science fiction – you never know about people. Sharing my work was great, scary at first, but they were very supportive. When you’re unemployed you can get pretty depressed, so it was nice to get that support. [Hearing other people’s stories] was really interesting – to hear what they thought about life’s experiences. I enjoyed it.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Yes I would. In fact I’ve tried to talk people into going. They haven’t yet, but maybe they will.

What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer?

Basically it gave me the courage to try to write. Courage and confidence. It was interesting learning to write in different styles of poetry.

You took part in the anthology release party; did you enjoy reading in public?

Yes, it was really neat. It was good for me to get up and read in public.

The first half of your poem in the anthology was kind of serious – you bring up the unpleasant realities of life as person with a disability- but then, your writing gets really funny. Was that change in tone a conscious decision?

I think I was trying to cheer myself up. I didn’t want to be too depressing. I’ve learned it doesn’t help to sit around and complain about things. I’ve had a hard two years, but I’ve met some real nice people at the workshop. It seems it’s the healthy people that don’t have time for you.

Is that first part of your poem [Decisions on a Tuesday morning, above] you trying to educate the "healthy people"?

Yes. It is a typical Tuesday for a disabled person. You never realize what it’s like until it happens to you. That’s what’s so nice about going to the Independent Living Resources. You meet so many people with the same problems as you, they can empathize.

Are you still writing?

All the time. Yes. It’s increased. I try to keep busy now that I’m not working, poetry really helps with that. I still use the [Write ARound Portland workshop] prompt technique at home. Like, ‘What can I write about that chair?’

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing?

I’m just trying to express what I’m going through. I just find it easier through poetry.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Roseanna Ellis Writing Workshop Participant at Independent Living Resources - Adults with physical and mental disabilities Roseanna Ellis was born in Portland in 1950. She grew up around 22nd and Lovejoy, “before the hospital started building on top of old houses.” She attended Lincoln High School and went to Portland State, where she received a BA in Foreign Languages, focusing on French and Italian. Biking was her main hobby, which she used to help raise money for the American Lung Association by taking part in their Seattle to Westport Bike Trek (about 100 miles), not once, but three times. She had a career in the banking industry for 24 years, working in various capacities, beginning with First National, then for whomever the most recent buyer was, ending with Wells Fargo for 10 years. She pinpoints the turn of the century as being when her luck changed. She became very ill, lost a leg, and then her job. Roseanna's spirits keep high, however, due to what seems an undefeatable optimism. She hopes to one day learn to ride her bike with her prosthetic, while in the mean time she puts that energy into swimming. Her love of languages continues as she is currently trying to teach herself Japanese. Roseanna's writing, featured in our newest anthology, and interview follow. She is pictured, right, reading her poem at Write Around Portland's anthology release party. Decisions on a Tuesday Morning by Roseanna Ellis It’s another Tuesday morning, and off to work I’m not going. . . not that I want to shirk But no one wants to let me do anything. I’m supposed to see a job developer today but I don’t know what to bring – Just the Labor Market Surveys, I guess. Maybe they’ll mean more to her Than they did to me – it seems silly To call someone just to ask what a job is like, when I want to ask for a job! “Just a general survey?” It’s another Tuesday morning, and I’m tired Of being broke. Disability may pay the rent, But what about medicine and doctor bills? And certainly not food – Maybe I should call the American Diabetes Association: Can they tell me how to eat a balanced Diabetes diet – on TEN DOLLARS A MONTH Food Stamp money? And clothing? I haven’t bought any clothes for two years! It’s another Tuesday morning, and I’ve got Nothing to wear! And if my prosthesis wears out, I won’t be able to walk! Then how will I go to work? If my medicine runs out, I’ll be dead! Then how will I go to work? Of course, I’d have plenty of money if it weren’t for paying rent – Maybe I should live under the bridge – or in the woods – Or under a boxcar. . . Then I could have a big dog for a companion, for protection, for privacy. . . It’s another Tuesday morning, and if I lived Under a boxcar, Hey, no more housework! When it gets dirty, just move to a new boxcar – Or they probably move boxcars often anyway. . . I should carry my suitcase on my walker, And pull my wheelchair along behind. . . Maybe I could get tips on the street? Or maybe I’d just tip over. . . I could bathe in the public fountains, And sit in a nice warm mall all day And go to work at night in a warm safe office – No rent, no electricity, no telephone bills! I should be able to manage just fine! But when it’s another Tuesday morning I don’t know what I’d tell my relatives When they want to write, or call, or visit: Guess I’d have to get a post office box – Could I use my old street address, and Get forwarded? And would that work as well For the IRS??? It’s another Tuesday morning, and I’m not going yet. . . Interview with featured writer Roseanna Ellis Interviewer & Biography Writer - Joe Lino, Write Around Portland volunteer Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop. It was a good workshop, I never did anything like that. I hadn’t shown other people my writing since high school. I met some really nice people from all over Portland. I think it was good for me. What did you get out of the workshop? Well, I got a lot of poems out of it! Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop? Yes, off and on, poems and stories. Well, I tried to write stories. Poetry seems easier to me. Writing prose reminds me of writing term papers. How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories? Really interesting. It was fun comparing your style to other people’s styles, how people could write such different things from the same prompt. You wind up getting to know people through their writing. The people who write nice poems, the people who write science fiction – you never know about people. Sharing my work was great, scary at first, but they were very supportive. When you’re unemployed you can get pretty depressed, so it was nice to get that support. [Hearing other people’s stories] was really interesting – to hear what they thought about life’s experiences. I enjoyed it. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? Yes I would. In fact I’ve tried to talk people into going. They haven’t yet, but maybe they will. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? Basically it gave me the courage to try to write. Courage and confidence. It was interesting learning to write in different styles of poetry. You took part in the anthology release party; did you enjoy reading in public? Yes, it was really neat. It was good for me to get up and read in public. The first half of your poem in the anthology was kind of serious – you bring up the unpleasant realities of life as person with a disability- but then, your writing gets really funny. Was that change in tone a conscious decision? I think I was trying to cheer myself up. I didn’t want to be too depressing. I’ve learned it doesn’t help to sit around and complain about things. I’ve had a hard two years, but I’ve met some real nice people at the workshop. It seems it’s the healthy people that don’t have time for you. Is that first part of your poem [Decisions on a Tuesday morning, above] you trying to educate the "healthy people"? Yes. It is a typical Tuesday for a disabled person. You never realize what it’s like until it happens to you. That’s what’s so nice about going to the Independent Living Resources. You meet so many people with the same problems as you, they can empathize. Are you still writing? All the time. Yes. It’s increased. I try to keep busy now that I’m not working, poetry really helps with that. I still use the [Write ARound Portland workshop] prompt technique at home. Like, ‘What can I write about that chair?’ Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing? I’m just trying to express what I’m going through. I just find it easier through poetry.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writer Roseanna Ellis Thanks to www.eringracephotography.com
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