Velma Pollard

Career

Her interest in writing began at an early age; when she was seven years old, she won her first prize for a poem. It was not until 1975 that she became eager to have her work published. She submitted her work to various journals, including the Jamaica Journal. Since 1988, her writing was published in several mediums, and appeared in such anthologies as Jamaica Woman: An Anthology of Poems (edited by Pamela Mordecai and Mervyn Morris, 1980), Her True-True Name (edited by Pamela Mordecai and Betty Wilson), and Daughters of Africa (edited by Margaret Busby, 1992). Pollard published four poetry collections, in addition to writing fiction. Her book Karl won the Casa de las Americas literary prize in 1992. After her retirement, Pollard had a continued presence at the University of West Indies as a senior lecturer.

Pollard extensively researched Creole languages of the English-official Caribbean. From this area of research, she found inspiration for her poetry. In August 2022, Pollard was elected as an honorary member of the Society for Caribbean Linguistics (SCL), which she served with distinction as an SCL Executive Officer and SCL Financial Officer.

Works Pollard's upbringing in a rural community had a strong influence on her writing. Her work often features nostalgia of the countryside, and a strong philosophical tone. The way in which she recited her work reflected the firmness and richness of her writing. Her poetry often reflects on modernity in contrast with the slower lifestyles of the past. In 2013, Pollard released a collection of poetry titled And Caret Bay Again: New and Selected Poems.