Andrea Gibson's second book of poems, The Madness Vase, offers a breathtaking continuation of the poet's most tender and honest work. Their fist book, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, opened the door to Gibson's unapologetic voice, yet The Madness Vase manages to take an even more intimate look at the subjects of family, war, spirituality, gender, grief and hope. The poem's topics range from hate crimes to playgrounds, from international conflict to hometowns, from falling in love to the desperation of loneliness. Gibson's work seizes us by the collar and hauls us inside some of her darkest moments, then releases out the other side. Moments later, we find ourselves inhaling words that fill us with light. Their luminous imagery is a buoy that allows us to resurface from their world clutching new possibilities of our own. Throughout their career, Gibson's poems have always been a call to social justice, but this collection goes beyond awareness. Their images linger in our psyches and entreat us to action. They challenge us to grow into our own skin. The journey may be raw at times but we are continuously left inspired, held, and certain we are not alone. By the time you finish reading The Madness Vase, you too will believe, "Folks like us/ We've got shoulder blades that rust in the rain/But they are still G-sharp/Whenever our spinal chords are tuned to the key of redemption/So go ahead world/Pick us/To make things better."
Andrea Gibson's second book of poems, The Madness Vase, offers a breathtaking continuation of the poet's most tender and honest work. Their fist book, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, opened the door to Gibson's unapologetic voice, yet The Madness Vase manages to take an even more intimate look at the subjects of family, war, spirituality, gender, grief and hope. The poem's topics range from hate crimes to playgrounds, from international conflict to hometowns, from falling in love to the desperation of loneliness. Gibson's work seizes us by the collar and hauls us inside some of her darkest moments, then releases out the other side. Moments later, we find ourselves inhaling words that fill us with light. Their luminous imagery is a buoy that allows us to resurface from their world clutching new possibilities of our own. Throughout their career, Gibson's poems have always been a call to social justice, but this collection goes beyond awareness. Their images linger in our psyches and entreat us to action. They challenge us to grow into our own skin. The journey may be raw at times but we are continuously left inspired, held, and certain we are not alone. By the time you finish reading The Madness Vase, you too will believe, "Folks like us/ We've got shoulder blades that rust in the rain/But they are still G-sharp/Whenever our spinal chords are tuned to the key of redemption/So go ahead world/Pick us/To make things better."
Über den Autor
Andrea Gibson is an American poet, performer, activist, and Colorado's ninth poet laureate. In 2008, Gibson won the first Women of the World Poetry Slam. Gibson is known for their work involving gender norms, queer identity, social issues, and LGBTQ+ topics. Gibson is the author of several poetry collections, including You Better Be Lightning (Button Poetry, 2021). They have also won awards and honors such as first place for poetry in the 2023 Feathered Quill Book Awards and the gold medal for poetry in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Gibson's other books include Lord of the Butterflies (Button Poetry, 2018), Pansy (Write Bloody Publishing, 2015), The Madness Vase (Write Bloody Publishing, 2015), Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns (Write Bloody Publishing, 2008), and the nonfiction book How Poetry Can Change Your Heart with co-author Megan Falley (Chronicle Books, 2019). Gibson also edited We Will Be Shelter: Poems for Survival (Write Bloody Publishing, 2014), an anthology of poems that address social justice issues. Their works have been finalists for the Goodreads Choice Awards. In addition to their literary achievements, Gibson has released seven albums of spoken word and performance poetry, including Hey Galaxy (2018), Truce (2013), and Flower Boy (2011). Gibson is also a four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion and has earned top placements in national competitions, including fourth in the 2004 National Poetry Slam and third in both the 2006 and 2007 Individual World Poetry Slams. They have been featured on international platforms such as the BBC, C-SPAN, and Air America. Originally from Calais, Maine, Gibson relocated to Boulder, Colorado in 1999.
