Myrna Lakshmi Gill, of Punjabi and Spanish parentage, was born in Manila, Philippines. Her father was born in India and her mother in the Philippines. Gill studied in the United States and came to Canada in 1964 to pursue graduate studies (M.A.) at the University of British Columbia. Later, she began but did not complete a Ph.D. at the University of New Brunswick. She resides in Vancouver. Her early poetry was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore.
Fiction
The Third Infinitive
Toronto: TSAR, 1993.
PS8563 .I498 T45 1993
Publisher’s Synopsis
Manila in the 1950s — the War is over, memories of the Japanese occupation are fresh; America entices, Elvis is King, and James Dean a sweet daydream; but the nuns at the Maryknoll Catholic school lay down the discipline. This is the world of Jazz, Sis One and Sis Two, three daughters of a man who is a former Indian nationalist and his Filipina wife. … As the three girls come of age, and their innocent privileged world transforms, the conflicts of ethnic, national, and personal identity come to the fore, and they choose their separate ways, all intimately related to the Catholic ethos of service, charity, knowledge and love.
Poetry
During Rain, I Plant Chrysanthemums
Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1966.
Poetry
First Clearing: An Immigrant’s Tour of Life : Poems
Manila, Philippines: Estaniel Press, 1972.
Poetry
Mind-walls: Poems
Fredericton, N.B.: Fiddlehead Poetry Books, 1970.
Limited editon of 500 copies.
Poetry
Novena to St. Jude Thaddeus: Poems
Fredericton, N.B.: Fiddlehead Poetry Books, 1979.
Poetry
Rape of the Spirit: Poems of Myrna Gill
Manila, Philippines: M. Colcol, 1962.
Poetry
Returning the Empties: Selected Poems, 1960s-1990s
Toronto: TSAR, 1998.
PS8563 .I1498 R47 1998
Anthology (Poetry)
New Wave Canada: The New Explosion in Canadian Poetry
Souster, Raymond, ed.
Toronto: Contact Press, 1966.
PS8292 .S68 1966
Selected Criticism and Interpretation
Chilana, Rajwant Singh. “Lakshmi Gill.” In South Asian Writers in Canada: A Bio-Bibliographical Study. Surrey, BC: Asian Publications, 2017, 217.
Z1376 .S68 C45 2017
Links
Lakshmi Gill page from the Writers Union of Canada website
Publisher Mawenzi House, formerly TSAR