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tanisha
barrett
2021 / interview series / poets & the PAndemic
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WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
I write poetry about identity and self acceptance.
WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?
The UK is where I was born and brought up but I’ve not found a true sense of belonging here. There have always been questions around why I am here, and where I’m really from. Unfortunately I have also experienced various forms of racism so have struggled to feel as though I truly belong.
WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DID TODAY?
Read an essay about queerness.
WHAT CREATIVE WORK WERE YOU DOING THIS TIME LAST YEAR?
This time last year I was journaling regularly, writing poetry and trying out lots of new recipes at home.
REGARDING IDEAS AND INSPIRATION: WHAT COMES FIRST WHEN YOU APPROACH WRITING A POEM OR STARTING A CREATIVE PROJECT?
Poems either come as a stream of words mostly already formed. Or they take their time to fill out, I’ll keep a poem in my head for a few days or weeks and allow it to take shape, letting new parts come and other bits disappear. It can be quite a fluid process which I enjoy.
WRITING OFTEN INCLUDES DRAWING FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE SOURCES, OFTEN BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY AND GENERAL TRUTHS, DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE PERSONAL AND GENERAL TRUTHS THAT ARE EXPLORED IN YOUR WRITING?
I find the personal and general truths are so interlinked that the boundaries are fairly flexible. I don’t write about things too far out of my own lived experience but there are certainly overarching themes that impact all of us e.g. white supremacy, heteronormativity, patriarchy, colonialism etc. Also, I have been working with people in relation to mental health for the last 12 years and have found that so much of what we experience is universal; the confusion, the frustration, the grief, the loss, the fear. Many people’s stories reflect some aspect of my own life, there is always some way to empathise or connect and in that respect it feels as though the general truths are a reflection of the lives we lead and the experiences that we have.
WHAT THEMES OR REOCCURRING THREADS DO YOU TRY TO EXPLORE IN YOUR WRITING? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO PURSUE THESE THEMES? HOW HAVE THESE CHANGED IN LIGHT OF THE 2019-2020 PANDEMIC?
The recurring themes I write about are acceptance of self. Understanding and accepting various aspects of our identity are integral to living a more peace filled life, one where we are not constantly fighting with ourselves and shrinking or metamorphosing to fit in. These themes are important to me because it’s a journey I have been on (and am still on). Most people experience similar feelings whether it’s in relations to mental health, race, gender, sexuality, disability, size, class etc. We are all living in a world that capitalises on our insecurities and differences and pressures us to conform to “norms”. In light of the pandemic I’ve had the sense that people are being themselves unapologetically and being more honest and true with themselves and others. We have learned more about the value of life and have been processing grief for people, missed events and expectations we had for the time gone by and it’s impacted how we do life.
WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU SEE YOUR CREATIVE WORK TAKING IN THE NEXT YEAR?
I’m hoping to create a more regular practice with writing and explore different methods and modalities of writing. I’m hoping to attend more readings and workshops so I can learn from other poets and writers and become more immersed in the writing world.
HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE? HOW SO?
It’s been a mixed bag. During the pandemic I wrote more than I had previously and had more time and space to think about my work. However in the UK, it’s a year later and we are still in lockdown. At this point I am struggling to write and inspiration is running low because so much of our time is spent inside and online.
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WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST STARTLING THING YOU'VE LEARNED OR EXPERIENCED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN?
I’ve learned a lot about our ability to adapt. I’ve been supporting people with their mental health throughout the pandemic and have been surprised and comforted by people's ability to adjust and embrace change. I’ve learned about how resourceful we can be in desperate times.
HAS COVID-19 CHANGED HOW YOU VIEW AND/OR NAVIGATE THE WORLD? HOW SO?
I’ve become more insular and can appreciate the simpler things e.g. a walk around my area, flowers blooming, blue skies. I’ve developed deeper friendships with some people and lost touch with others. I’ve gained a greater understanding of my needs and wants in different areas of my life and have been able to make some changes that honour them. I’ve felt at peace about my queer identity in a way that I haven’t before and I really appreciate that.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 10 YEARS FROM NOW? HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL AFFECT CREATIVE FIELDS SUCH AS WRITERS, ARTISTS, ETC?
I am hoping the world will be kinder, more compassionate place. The pandemic is something we have all had in common, the way we have experienced it is different but it’s something that connects us nonetheless. I hope it will change the way we relate to one another in terms of care, empathy, respect and support. I am hoping creative industries will have recovered within 5 - 10 years and that they will be thriving. We need art more than ever so I hope this will be reflected in budgets and available grants.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE GENRE TO READ AND WHAT’S A GENRE YOU FIND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE WITH? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
I particularly love memoirs, I enjoy being in someone else's shoes and learning from people's lives. I struggle to engage with crime and thrillers, mainly because I read to relax and even though I enjoy this genre on television it feels quite different in written form.
WHAT OTHER ART FORM [IF ANY] INFLUENCES OR INFORMS YOUR WRITING? E.G., FILM, MUSIC, PAINTING / VISUAL ART…
I am influenced by films, documentaries and music; they have a way of transporting you to other worlds and immersing you in other peoples stories. They help keep the creativity alive.
WHAT’S ONE THING (OR LESSON) APPLICABLE OUTSIDE WRITING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM BEING A POET OR WRITER?
I’ve learned that rejection isn’t so bad. Before 2020 I had never shared my poetry. I kept a journal under my bed and wrote bits here and there and that’s where it stayed. One of the biggest barriers to sharing my work was fear. I worried what people would think, if it was good enough to be read in a public space, whether my words mattered/were important etc. There were so many what if’s and buts and I’ve learned that rejection isn’t so bad. I’ve learned that sharing words brings so many more positives than negatives and that all of our voices are valuable.
WHAT'S AN UNDERRATED (OR LITTLE RECOGNIZED) BOOK YOU LOVE?
Eat up by Ruby Tandoh is a wonderful book. It’s an ode to food, a love letter about the ways it comforts and nourishes. It goes between Ruby’s personal story with food and body image and facts about diet culure and our attitude towards the consumption of food. Each chapter has a beautifully written recipe that helps the reader to appreciate and reconnect with all the wonderful things we can eat.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT WORK AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND IT..
I most recently wrote a poem for Rife Magazine about black joy, peace and rest. You can find it here: RIFE MAGAZINE