Vancouver poet laureate Evelyn Lau. | Photo courtesy of Oolichan Books

Vancouver poet laureate and author, Evelyn Lau, has been dedicated to writing poetry for the past decade. Her works, ranging from volumes of poetry to short stories and a novel, have won Lau several awards, including the Pat Lowther Award for best book of poetry by a woman in Canada for her collection Living Under Plastic.

Being part of Vancouver’s poetry scene herself, she shares her views on the city’s enthusiasm for poetry, the way culture can influence one’s work and the struggles of being a poet.

The city’s poetic pulse

In comparison to some other parts of Canada, Evelyn says that there’s a lot of energy around poetry in Vancouver. She recalls a gathering of poet laureates in which some people from smaller communities expressed how much effort was needed to start something as simple as a poetry reading series.

From events held at coffee shops and libraries to writers’ festivals, Lau realizes how much there is going on in the city.

“Coming from Vancouver, there are so many things going on around poetry. Attending everything, you could practically go every night of the week,” Lau says.

Lau points out that although there may be an active community for poetry, gathering an audience is still a struggle.

“It’s always a challenge to get people to come out and go to an event and realize that poetry isn’t scary or boring or something that will have no relevance to their lives,” she says.

Poetry and culture

With the mix of different nationalities seen across the city, Lau finds diversity in the poetry community. She says that although she tends to not focus as much on race, she mentions how one’s cultural background can influence his/her poetry.

“Our cultural background plays a part in the way we use language and also in terms of what we’re writing about,” Lau says.

Coming from a Chinese family, Lau explains how a huge emphasis was placed on academic achievement while growing up. She says that although some people who grew up from this upbringing may excel, it can also create a huge amount of anxiety.

Lau says that although the inspiration to write poetry can come unexpectedly, certain themes such as childhood experiences or passions are worked through in writing.

“For me childhood is always a pivotal time so there’s always a kind of memory that resurfaces in the work,” she says.

Photo courtesy of Oolichan Books

Photo courtesy of Oolichan Books

Passion versus profession

During the time Lau had published novels, short stories collection and non-fiction, she was able to make a living from writing. While that may be possible for some writers, Lau says that is difficult to make a living when one is solely focusing on poetry.

“Nobody in Canada – I don’t think anybody anywhere – can make a living as a poet. You know, everybody teaches or they do other work,” she says.

In addition to the financial challenge, Lau says the amount of time that can be spent on writing poetry can also be limited when there are other obligations.

“I fantasize about how I think I should become a monk or something – stand out with my begging bowl and go home and write poetry,” she laughs.

Although there may be challenges to following one’s passion, Lau has been continuing what she loves and feels meant to do.

“I remember one person saying you don’t get rich off of it but you’re rich in other ways. I mean, it’s very emotionally gratifying, you make great friendships and it’s intellectually stimulating,” she says.

Evelyn Lau can be reached at
poetlaureate@vancouver.ca