Pat Lowther
Pat Lowther was a Canadian poet born in 1935 in Vancouver, British Columbia. She showcased her talent early, publishing her first poem at the age of ten. After facing challenges in her personal life, including a divorce and financial struggles, Lowther became more active in the literary community, gaining recognition for her poetry that often reflected her political interests. Her notable works include "This Difficult Flowering" and "Milk Stone," the latter highlighting her evolving style and mastery of imagery. Lowther's promising career was tragically cut short when she was murdered in 1975, a crime for which her husband was later convicted. Despite her untimely death, her poetry continued to be published posthumously, receiving critical acclaim and solidifying her legacy in Canadian literature. In recognition of her contributions, the League of Canadian Poets established the Pat Lowther Award in 1980, celebrating the work of female Canadian poets. Lowther's impact on poetry remains significant, ensuring her work is studied and appreciated.
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Subject Terms
Pat Lowther
Writer
- Born: July 29, 1935
- Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Died: September 24, 1975
- Place of death: Near Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
Biography
Patricia Louise Tinmuth Lowther was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1935. She was a precocious child, and she published her first poem in the Vancouver Sun when she was ten years old. After leaving school at sixteen, she worked for a time as a secretary and clerk. In 1953, she married Bill Domphouse, with whom she had two children. When the marriage dissolved in 1957, Domphouse retained custody of their son while Lowther kept their infant daughter.
After her divorce, Lowther began writing more regularly and sending her work to literary journals. She also took creative writing courses, engaged in left-wing political activity, and became active in the Vancouver literary scene. At this time, the poets Dorothy Livesay and Patrick Lane befriended her. In 1963, she married Roy Armstrong Lowther, and the couple later had two daughters. Like his wife, Roy Lowther participated in political activities.
In 1968, Very Stone House, a small publishing company, released Lowther’s poetry collection, This Difficult Flowering. Her next publication was a limited edition unbound portfolio of less than a dozen poems, The Age of the Bird, published in 1972; the poems in this book express her concern with South American politics. From this point on, Lowther enjoyed a great deal of success as a poet. However, her personal life fell into shambles when her husband was fired from his job, leaving the family in severe poverty.
In 1974, Lowther published Milk Stone, a volume of poems that demonstrated her growing mastery of tactile imagery and her move toward full maturity as a poet. By 1975, she had been elected cochair of the League of Canadian Poets, had received several grants from the Canada Council, and had begun to teach creative writing at the University of British Columbia. Moreover, it appeared that she was about to break into the international poetry scene when the Oxford University Press agreed to publish her collection, A Stone Diary.
Lowther’s career was tragically cut short in September, 1975, when she disappeared; three weeks later, her body was found near Squamish, British Columbia. She was murdered by her husband, who in 1977 was convicted of the crime.
Both A Stone Diary and Final Instructions: Early and Uncollected Poems were published after Lowther’s death. The two volumes won great critical acclaim, making the loss of their author even more poignant. Although Lowther’s life and career were cut short, her legacy to Canadian poetry is great. The League of Canadian Poets acknowledged this legacy with the establishment of the Pat Lowther Award in 1980, an annual prize honoring a new book by a female Canadian poet. Lowther’s work will continue to be the focus of ongoing critical study for the foreseeable future, and her place as a Canadian poet is certain.