On Feb. 14, UFV writer in residence, Rob Taylor, hosted a Valentine-inspired reading at the Abbotsford Campus; the audience was provided with a range of poems from Taylor and special guests who exposed them to the spectrum that love can contain: from romantic, platonic, to loving one’s own self.
Taylor’s readings focused on his love for his mother and wife, but also focused on parental love that exists between a parent and child. Taylor’s book, The News, includes poems written to his unborn child throughout the stages of its development and his wife’s pregnancy. These poems were powerful, as Taylor brought forth the feeling of unconditional love by putting into words, the experience of loving someone who he had not yet met.
Taylor’s poems don’t just focus on the feel-good moments of parenting. In one such poem, frustration from children overflowing a bathtub transformed to laughter and love that flowed into the room. To that end, his poetry read also explored love in the painful moments of life, as he shared one poem centered around his mother and her dementia — the love for someone even when you slowly become strangers. Taylor’s poetry was well-enjoyed by all, and the audience was provided a preview of his upcoming book.
Taylor wasn’t the only one who captured the audience. Poets like Bradley Peters — a former student of Taylor — also had the audience’s undivided attention. Peters’ poetry focused on love and humanity in the tough moments of life. Peters’ poetry revolved around prison and its difficulties, while bringing in the fresh perspective often missed on reflection, compassion, and humanity in the situation that is often forgotten. The audience was given emotions put to words regarding a situation that holds a high-level of social stigma in society. Peters also brought research into his work, and included this aspect when talking to the audience before and after his readings, which further amplified his credibility and poetry.
This Valentine’s Day reading was not the typical love and romance reading that comes to one’s mind when thinking about poetry and love in the classic sense, but there was something bigger to be said. The audience was exposed to the continuum of love, from romance to the self, but also the love that can be found in the mundane and the pitfalls of life. Love is all around us and isn’t always beautiful or stitched with butterflies, but can often be intertwined with pain, humour, and the everyday rush of life.
This event is not the only one that will be happening this semester, so for those who missed it or want more of these beautiful readings, there will be another at the end of the term. Students are also encouraged to reach out to the writer in residence to gain feedback on their own writing, or to simply ask questions about the craft or career goals such as grad school.
