Fats here.
A couple of weeks ago, I brought home a few poetry books from the library. One of these is Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson. This book contains excerpts from Andrea Gibson’s poetry collections. Take Me With You is in a pocket book format, which is small enough to carry with you.
“Andrea Gibson has made a career at the forefront of the spoken word movement. Gibson (They/Them) regularly tours, performing poetry that focuses on gender norms, politics, social reform, and the struggles LGBTQ people face in today’s society.”
Below you’ll find some of the exceprts featured in Gibson’s new book. Poetry Friday round-up is hosted today by
Carol at Carol’s Corner!
I want to demand that luck
not be the thing that keeps us
alive. I want to stoke the holy
fire of my own impatience and
burn the word “tolerance.”
Tolerance is a murderer.
Tolerance shines
the bullet.
No tolerant person or system of
government is an advocate for
love or life or peace.
And all they know of
hate is that it couldn’t
beat the love out of
me.
Let me say right now for the record:
I’m still gonna be here asking this
world to dance. Even if it keeps
stepping on my holy feet. You, you
stay here with me, okay? You stay
here with me. Raising your bite
against the bitter dark, your bright
longing, your brilliant fist of loss.
Friend, if the only thing we have to
gain in staying is each other, my
God that is plenty. My God that is
enough. My God that is so, so much
for the light to give. Each of us at
each other’s backs whispering over
and over and over,
“Live. Live. Live.”
Gathering Books 
She writes such fierce words, openings for all, backing for those who need them. I am struck by “Tolerance shines/the bullet.” It will stay with me to ponder, Fats. Thank you for sharing some of Gibson’s work.
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This week I shared the work of Lynn Ungar, a Unitarian minister who uses poetry to express her big truths. And then I come over here and meet Andrea. These are breathtaking!
“Let me say right now for the record:
I’m still gonna be here asking this
world to dance. Even if it keeps
stepping on my holy feet”
“Friend, if the only thing we have to
gain in staying is each other, my
God that is plenty. My God that is
enough.”
I’m going from here to the Denver Public Library catalogue, to look for TAKE ME WITH YOU. Thank you so much!
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Such fire and passion in these excerpts you share. I love them–and want to read more!
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Strong words, and pleas thanks for sharing Andrea Gibson with us Fats.
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Loved Andrea Gibson’s book. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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