In this Power Q & A, we’re delighted to talk with the incomparable Lynn Tait, whose debut poetry collection, You Break It You Buy It, was just released with Guernica Editions on September 1, 2023. Tait’s work offers an evocative and gutsy exploration of pain and resilience. From racism to the climate emergency, to the complicated nature of family, love, and loss, Tait defies a generation’s debilitating standard of silence and cracks open our personal and shared failings with unflinching tenderness, humour, and insight.
The effect is absorbing and resounds with a sonic call to empathy. Now more than ever, we need this message.
Today we’re asking Lynn about “accessible poetry,” and her nuanced and thoughtful answer is everything we hoped it would be.
Lynn Tait’s You Break It You Buy It is available wherever books are sold.
Q. Some poets don't like their work being called accessible, but not only do you not mind it, you have often referred to your own poetry as such. Why do you think other poets might have a distaste for this word? Why does it not bother you?
A. I couldn't try to talk for other poets here. I imagine it depends how one might define "accessible". I realize there are "Instagram poets" who are not appreciated by writers who have worked at their craft for years especially publishing through print, magazines, and books. Social media platforms have made it easy to corral a large following and, in some cases, it’s paid off, but it does have somewhat of a cheapening effect on the art and craft of poetry.
Making poetry too accessible allows for copyright infringements, under the guise of fair use. We are not paid properly for our time and work as it is.
I think some poets aren't too keen on Amazon or e-books in general. I respect this point of view. For myself, I wish my poetry book was available as an e-book. If I had to buy hardcopy poetry books only, I'd read much less than I do; and I read a heck of a lot of books at one time on my Kindle and in hardcopy, so the accessibility of the product/book, my own and others is important to me. But I have 14 poetry books on the go digitally and 7 hardcopies I'm reading; one of which I was able to find used, so cost me a bit less.
For myself, readership is what I strive for and I equate that to accessibility. I have many friends and acquaintances who do not read poetry. They are surprised at the seriousness of my work pertaining to the subject matter and appreciate the humour. But they're also surprised to find they understand my pieces without a lot of difficulty or they relate to them in some way. I use a lot of metaphor and simile and ambiguity allowing a wide range of personal interpretation, but I think my subject matter allows for accessibility. Everyone has dealt with lousy relationships, we all don't have mothers we adore, we are cruel to each other, and people piss us off. We all have lots to say, but refrain from saying it, so I think my work allows readers to enter into feelings and thoughts they can't necessarily express.
Frankly, I think more people should attempt to read poetry. In this day and age and with time being precious, it makes sense for some readers to want to fit in short one or two-page pieces of writing rather than long stories. Poetry allows for 3 to 5 lyrical narratives, stories, and ideas in about 10 minutes. You get fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, horror, speculative fiction, science, and everything in between in a relatively short period of time. The topics are endless. Readers unfamiliar with poetry are still stuck on trying to figure out our 'meanings' rather than just taking what they want or need from the poem. Most people aren't pondering over what Stephen King or what most prose writers are trying to say, so why agonize over meanings (unless you want to) in poems? No one is going to quiz you at the end of the day on poetry interpretation. Are they still doing that in the classroom? Reading poetry should be freeing not confining. Who cares what we initially had in mind or what prompted us to write a particular piece? Once poems are available to the public, does it matter what we originally had in mind?
I've read plenty of poems that I can't say are accessible. I don't have a clue what the poet means and I can't personally access the images. Sometimes it doesn't matter I'm enjoying the pieces regardless, but there are times . . .I'm in a fog and need some clarity. As a poet, I don't find this particularly intimidating, but if you want to turn people on to poetry, and want people to buy poetry books, I think some kind of accessibility of the art form or the content must be offered. Are my poems simplistic – no. But I do hope they are accessible.
Poet Lynn Tait.
More about Lynn Tait:
Lynn Tait is a Toronto-born poet and photographer residing in Sarnia, Ontario. Her poems have appeared in literary magazines and journals including Literary Review of Canada, FreeFall, Vallum, CV2, Windsor Review, and in over 100 North American anthologies. She is a member of the Ontario Poetry Society and The League of Canadian Poets. You Break It You Buy It is her debut collection.
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