The Madness Vase

Andrea Gibson's second poetry collection, The Madness Vase, beautifully extends their tender and honest work.

While their first book, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, unveiled Gibson's unapologetic voice, The Madness Vase delves even deeper into themes like family, war, spirituality, gender, grief, and hope.

Covering subjects from hate crimes to love and loneliness to global conflicts, Gibson's verses pull us into their darkest moments, only to release us into words that radiate light. Their luminous imagery acts as a buoy, guiding us to new possibilities.

Throughout their career, Gibson's poetry has called for social justice, and this collection pushes past mere awareness. After 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."

Author: Andrea Gibson
Publisher: Write Bloody Publishing
Published: 09/15/2011
Pages: 122
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.38lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.29d
ISBN13: 9781935904397
ISBN10: 1935904396
BISAC Categories:
- Poetry | American | General
- Poetry | LGBTQ+
- Poetry | Subjects & Themes | Love & Erotica

About the Author
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.

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