Tharani Balachandran is a poet, lawyer, gossip lover and tea enthusiast who lives on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples in Victoria with her husband and daughter. She is the author of two chapbooks and her work has appeared in numerous publications including On the Seawall and The Racket.
Featured in Speak—Poetry in Performance
Interviewed by Kelly Kaur
Kelly Kaur (KK): How would you describe your poetry collections? Themes? Background?
Tharani Balachandran (TB): Love in the Time of Corona was very much my reaction to how I was feeling and what I observed happening around me during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly during the first periods of lockdown. I think it really came from a place of looking inward and being alone with my own thoughts and reflecting on the often fleeting nature of relationships. Brown Sugar Skin is a collection that centres around motherhood, family, relationships and childhood. I edited this collection while pregnant with my daughter so these topics were very front of mind.
KK: What was your mother’s reaction/feedback to the poems? Has she read them?
TB: My mom has always been enthusiastic about and supportive of my poetry, ever since I placed third in a poetry competition when I was 8 years old! She bought me my first collection of poetry shortly after—Breathing Fire, a collection of Canadian poetry edited by Lorna Crozier and Patrick Lane (still on my bookshelf) and encouraged me to keep writing from a young age. I don’t think she understands why I feel compelled to share so much about my personal life through poetry. Our parents’ generation tend to keep things close to their chests and I come from a background of hardworking immigrants who don’t wear their emotions on their sleeves.
KK: Tell us more about using your Tamil background and Tamil words in your poetry.
TB: My parents are both Tamil Sri Lankan and immigrated to Canada before I was born. I feel very tied to my Tamil roots and the rich history that I come from. My parents made sure that my sisters and I had a strong sense of where we came from and incorporated traditions into our childhood. Having said that, I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t grow up speaking Tamil and didn’t have much interest in learning until I visited Sri Lanka for the first time nearly 20 years ago. Growing up racialized in a predominantly white city, I realize I subconsciously shrunk my differences and background to attempt fitting in. The more I consider my identity and how my daughter will identify growing up, I feel pulled to reflect more on my Tamil background and incorporate Tamil words (that I am continuing to learn in weekly lessons!) in my poetry.
KK: How do you construct your poems? What is your writing practice?
TB: I don’t really have one! When I feel pulled to write, I write. I highly recommend free writing—set a timer for 10 minutes and just get anything down on paper that comes to mind. The process of editing comes much later and I ruthlessly edit my poems into the ground. Often the poem at the end looks nothing like the poem did at the start, but that’s part of the process. I forget who said this, but it’s true—no surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader! Although I don’t have much of a writing practice, I make sure that I engage with poetry daily, whether it is by editing a piece, jotting down a thought, or reading poetry.
KK: What have you read and do you read? Who inspires you (other writers, people, place, etc.)?
TB: I have been an avid reader since I was very young and spent a lot of time at my local library, devouring everything from the Babysitters Club to the Outsiders. I am not ashamed to admit (especially since I am a lawyer who does a lot of non-fiction reading not for pleasure) that I still lean towards fiction. I just finished Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and Drop Dead by Lily Chu. My bookshelf is also full of my favourite poets and poetry books yet to be read. I am currently reading Midway, a fantastic collection of poetry by Kayla Czaga, who is a local poet. I am always inspired by other writers, and find reading is the best cure for any perception of writer’s block.