Read This: Michael Ondaatje Is Learning Everything Again
Sep 28, 2024
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Michael Ondaatje, the Sri Lankan-born Canadian essayist, poet, and Booker Prize winner, shares insights on his latest poetry collection, 'A Year of Last Things.' He reflects on the joy of rediscovering poetry at 80, describing writing as a personal journey through memory and grief. Ondaatje discusses the physicality of the writing process, his emotional experiences during the pandemic, and how poetry serves as a connection to loss. He emphasizes the evolution of his craft, highlighting the intimacy and exploration found in the act of creating.
Michael Ondaatje's recent poetry collection reflects his joyful rediscovery of writing, revealing deep themes of memory and loss.
The conversation emphasizes Ondaatje's unique ability to intertwine personal experiences with broader universal themes through poetic language.
Deep dives
Exploring Michael Ondaatje's Work
Michael Ondaatje is known for his celebrated works, including the widely acclaimed novel 'The English Patient,' which won the Booker Prize and was adapted into a successful film. His earlier work, 'In the Skin of a Lion,' resonates deeply with readers for its portrayal of workers' struggles in 1930s Toronto, showcasing Ondaatje's ability to connect with diverse audiences beyond his immediate environment. The conversation highlights Ondaatje's mastery not only in fiction but also in poetry, as evidenced by his latest collection, 'A Year of Last Things,' which is described as beautiful, precise, and imbued with a sense of melancholy that reflects his life experiences. His range as a writer—evident in novels like 'The Cat's Table' and 'Warlight'—demonstrates his genius and enduring relevance in contemporary literature.
The Art of Poetry and Personal Discovery
Ondaatje's recent poetry collection represents a significant return to form after a two-decade hiatus from writing poetry, indicating a period of personal and artistic rediscovery. He describes the process of writing this collection as both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, emphasizing that he approached it without any preconceived notions or fragments, allowing for a genuine exploration of his thoughts and emotions. The poems encapsulate not just personal reflections but also themes of memory and loss, showcasing Ondaatje's ability to intertwine personal history with broader experiences of universal relevance. This introspective process has invigorated his voice, enabling him to express intimate memories while recounting his evolving relationship with the craft of poetry.
The Interplay of Memory, Grief, and Language
The themes of memory, loss, and the nuances of language construct a profound landscape in Ondaatje's poetry, where the act of writing becomes a medium for processing experiences and emotions. One of the standout poems, 'Last Things,' serves as an elegy that captures the essence of intimate farewells and the beauty of shared moments with loved ones. Ondaatje skillfully navigates the complexities of grief, conveying his thoughts on how writing about loss can bring both closure and celebration of relationships that have shaped his life. Moreover, the exploration of language itself emerges as a crucial theme, as Ondaatje plays with words and forms to uncover layers of meaning, allowing room for deeper engagement with both the physicality of writing and the emotional connection to the reader.
Sri Lankan-born Canadian essayist, poet, and Booker Prize-winning novelist Michael Ondaatje recently released a stunning collection of poems. Ondaatje is now 80 years old and it’s almost half a century since he published his first novel; even longer since he first published poetry. On this episode of Read This he joins Michael for a conversation about A Year of Last Things and why writing remains such a joyful act of discovery.
