Velma Pollard

Velma Pollard (born 1937) is a Jamaican poet and fiction writer. Among her most noteworthy works are Shame Trees Don't Grow Here (1991) and Leaving Traces (2007). She is known for the melodious and expressive mannerisms in her work. She is the sister of Erna Brodber.

Velma Pollard was born in 1937 to a farmer and school teacher in Woodside, Jamaica. Both Velma and her sister, Erna, expressed interests in the arts at a young age. Velma Pollard attended Excelsior High School in Kingston, Jamaica. She went on to attend the University College of the West Indies, where she read languages. She has a Masters in English and Education from Columbia University and McGill University respectively.

Her interest in writing began at an early age; at the age of seven, she won her first prize for a poem. It was not until 1975 that she became eager to have her work published. She sent her work to various journals, including the Jamaica Journal. Since 1988, her work has been published in several mediums, including The Women's Press and Canoe Press. She has published several anthologies and five poetry books. Her novel Karl won the Casa de las Americas literary prize in 1992. Since her retirement, Pollard has a continued presence at the University of West Indies as a senior lecturer.

Pollard extensively researched Creole languages of the Anglophone Caribbean. From this area of research, she found inspiration for her poetry.

Pollard's upbringing in a rural community has had a strong influence on her writing. Her work often features nostalgia of the countryside, and a strong philosophical tone. The way which she recites her work reflects the firmness and richness of her writing. Her poetry often times reflects on modernity in contrast with the slower lifestyles of the past. In 2013, Velma Pollard released a collection of poetry titled And Caret Bay Again: New and Selected Poems. This collection of poetry showcases Pollard's witty style of writing as well as her ability to maintain her audiences' interest.

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