Channel 5 News’ PEOPLE AND PLACES

Long time resident releases poetry book

Belize City, Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Her work appears regularly in the Amandala and her words have entertained readers for a number of years. Today, American retiree Anne K. Lowe released an anthology of poems called "Liberated." Her musings touch on subjects ranging from the beauty of nature to crime and violence. News Five caught up with the poet at the Library of African and Indian Studies this morning and she told us that within the pages of the book, readers will find the wisdom of experiences garnered over her lifetime.

Anne K. Lowe, Poet
“Well I have it divided into three parts. The first part is about Belize and it’s mostly nature poems because I live up in the bush with the animals, the snakes, and I have a large number of dogs and cats, somebody was always giving me puppies and kittens.”

“The second part is about my childhood memories. Including how I related to things like my father. And one of them is about the great depression in the 1930’s because that is why my father lost his business.”

Patrick Jones
“Who would you want to read your poetry book?”

Anne K. Lowe, Poet
“My relatives, my friends, anybody else that might be interested. It’s not all about the same thing you know. You get over into some of those things about people in criminal activities, it’s a little different. I don’t think some people would want the kiddies to read that, but some of the things in the first part, they’ve used several of my poems in the schools. One called “God Bless” and another one, “Belizean Grocery” and there is another one called “Our Jobs”, those were about Belize.”

"Liberated" was published by Ramos Publishing, a local company owned and operated by journalist Adele Ramos. Lowe has pledged the proceeds of her book to fund scholarships to the University of Belize. "Liberated" is available for fifteen dollars at the Angelus Press and Brodies.

Channel 7 News

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Anne K. Lowe: Liberated

You may know her name from her numerous 'Letters to the editor signed by Anne K. Lowe,' which have appeared in the AMANDALA and REPORTER newspapers over the years. Today for the first time the often outspoken and always opinionated American expatriate was unmasked. This morning the 80 year old who has lived in Belize for the past 19 years launched an anthology of 123 poems. She calls the vast collection, Liberated and Lowe told us it is a lifetime of poetry.

Anne K. Lowe, Poet
"It could appeal to anyone from nature lovers or a family of friends or even street dudes, some of the ones in the back I think will interest them."

Keith Swift,
Where do you get your inspiration from?

Anne K. Lowe,
"In my head. [Laughs.] Well you know it's things I see, for example let me show you here these things in the first part which all have to do with that but in the second part it's all about childhood memories, you know enjoying the playground and children that I know and things like that; Christmas, Independence Day, and even the Great Depression because I am 80 years old and I was alive when the Great Depression started back in 1930 and the stock market crash was October 1929."

Keith Swift,
So these poems span your lifetime?

Anne K. Lowe,
"Yeah they do. These are all, practically almost, about people or things that I experienced; for example this one is about what I experienced when there was prejudice against Japanese Americans."

Keith Swift,
Would you say this anthology is autobiographical?

Anne K. Lowe,
"Yeah it is in a way, not everyway."

Keith Swift,
It's your story?

Anne K. Lowe,
"Well it could be, the first part and then the last poem, Ticking of Eternity, is how I see how I'm going to die, like a leaf falling off a tree."

Liberated is the second release from the Ramos Publishing imprint. It is available at the Angelus Press for $15. Lowe has requested that the proceeds be donated to the University of Belize's Scholarship Fund. We say she requested because Lowe probably won't be here to oversee it. After 19 years living in Belize, Lowe will be leaving the quiet of rural Corozal for the beaches of Cancun, Mexico. There she says she hopes to write a book of Spanish poems.