Turning the PAGE BY SABRINA LEE
drama major, with minors in French andmusical theater at Hofstra University, and had for many years pursued writing as a hobby until the pandemic hit. Sometime between June and July of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic raged across the country, she decided to compile the poems she had written throughout the years and started working on publishing her very own poetry book, “Moon Face Child.” Her book is expected to be published this May through Amazon’s self-publishing program. The book features more than 55 poems divided into different collections—from the pandemic and childhood to themes of grief and loss.
Photos by Sabrina Lee
Despite the pandemic and its many challenges, Tori Bogacki decided to publish a book of poetry with the goal of bringing hope back into the world.
Like many of us, 19-year-old Tori Bogacki suddenly found herself alone—with only her thoughts—in March of 2020. She had just been told to leave her university campus indefinitely, and the news cycle turned into an endless spiral of Covid-19 press briefings, grieving and fear. Suddenly, she was alone in New York while her friends were states away, and she thought about the normal life she had taken for granted. In searching for comfort and consolation, she put pen to paper. “I never knew the artistry of standing in a crowd until I stood alone. Or understood the blessing that it is to walk through a park on an April day surrounded by life,” writes Bogacki in her poem, “Under the Same Sun.” Bogacki has long gravitated towards creating art. She is a Bachelor of Fine Arts
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“I found myself in a space because I am a drama major, where there’s a lot of things artistically that I love to do that with Covid has been difficult,” Bogacki said. “I was like, ‘How can I create a product or create something that gives beauty back into the world? How can I make something artistic that is meaningful and that is feasible within the realm of Covid-19?’” Diving deeper into free verse poetry was just the answer. She began writing a poem every day or every few days, and then realized she also wanted to publish. The decision was no surprise to her mom, Victoria Bogacki. In her eyes, pursuing a poetry book was a natural progression of her daughter’s love for writing. “She always had an affinity and just connected to” writing, her mom said. “I remember, she was little, and it started right when she was in school. It was so natural with her.”
