Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns - Paperback

by Andrea Gibson (Author)

Four-time Denver Grand Champion, Pushcart Prize nominee, and winner of the 2008 Women of the World Poetry Slam, Andrea Gibson's dynamic and energetic first book, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, challenges us to not only read, but to react.

Hauntingly vivid, the poems march through a soldier's lingering psychological wounds, tackle the curious questions of school children on the meaning of "hate", and tangle with a lover's witty and vibrant description of longing.

Gibson's poems deconstruct the current political climate through stunning imagery and careful crafting. With the same velocity, the poignant and vacillating love poems are equally capable of sweeping the air out of the room. Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns has a bold and unforgettable internal voice and is rich with the kind of questioning that inspires action.

Praise

"Andrea Gibson does not just show up to pluck your heart strings, [they stick] around to tune them. If being floored is new to you, ya might wanna grab a cushion. Beware the highway in [their] grace and the crowbar in [their] verse."

-Buddy Wakefield, author of Stunt Water

Author Biography

Andrea Gibson (1975-2025) was 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.