Boulderite Andrea Gibson was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate Wednesday, a position in which they hope to “redirect awe, astonishment and wonder back into people.”
That’s “something we were born with, but culture takes out of us as we grow older,” Gibson said in a state news release. “I spent so much time writing about what was wrong with the world. Now I write about what I dream the world can be.”
Gibson — a queer activist, author and four-time Denver Grand Slam poetry champion — writes about the LGBTQ community, spirituality, feminism, mental health and gun reform, among other topics. Much of Gibson’s current work centers on their journey after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago.
On Wednesday morning at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Gov. Jared Polis announced Gibson would succeed Bobby LeFebre, who served as the state’s first poet laureate of color. Gibson will hold the title for two years.
During the announcement, Gibson read two poems. ”Acceptance Speech After Setting the World Record in Goosebumps” was inspired by the idea of what Gibson would say after being so awed by the world that they won an award for experiencing record-setting goosebumps.
“I read the poem because I was speaking about my cancer diagnosis and how tapping into the brevity of this life has gifted me so much awe and joy and astonishment,” Gibson said in an interview after the announcement.
Another poem called “Tincture” captured what a soul would miss about its body after death, highlighting even the perceived negatives of the corporeal form, such as pain, hunger or embarrassment.
Gibson wants a world where everybody has a favorite poem in the way everyone has a song they credit with saving their life. In their role as state poet laureate, Gibson hopes to bring poetry to unlikely places so people can encounter the artform in more accessible ways.
“I want to come up with new and inventive ways to help a larger population fall in love and appreciate poetry,” they said. “When you go to see a musician, not everybody in the audience is a musician, but with poetry readings, typically, the people in the audience are all poets. I had this dream of people who aren’t poets coming out to hear poetry in places we don’t normally expect poetry to be.”
Off the top of their head, Gibson brainstormed reading poetry to veterinarians experiencing mental health distress, connecting with the elderly in senior centers or engaging young children in schools.
“My mind is racing with the possibilities,” they said.
Gibson has written six poetry collections and won numerous awards for their work, including the Independent Publishers Award. Gibson is also the author of a nonfiction book entitled “How Poetry Can Change Your Heart.”
Andrea Gibson, who was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate, is pictured near Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder after a gathering to honor them on Sept. 6, 2023. Gibson said in a news release, “I spent so much time writing about what was wrong with the world. Now I write about what I dream the world can be.” (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks during a small gathering to honor Andrea Gibson as Colorado’s ninth poet laureate on the terrace at Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder on Sept. 6, 2023 Gov. Polis announced Wednesday morning that Gibson will succeed Bobby LeFebre, who served as the state’s first poet laureate of color. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Andrea Gibson, who was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate, far right, sits with their partner Megan Falley, as they wait to be introduced by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis during a small gathering on the terrace at Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder on Sept. 6, 2023. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Andrea Gibson, who was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate, right, reads aloud one of two poems during a small gathering in their honor on the terrace at Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder on Sept. 6, 2023. Gibson — a queer activist, author and four-time Denver Grand Slam poetry champion — writes about the LGBTQ community, spirituality, feminism, mental health and gun reform, among other topics. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Andrea Gibson, who was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate, second from right, is applauded as they arrive on the terrace at Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder with their partner Megan Falley, right, on Sept. 6, 2023. Gibson will hold the title for two years. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
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The poet laureate role was created to promote poetry appreciation in the state and honor local wordsmiths. Colorado Humanities, Center for the Book and Colorado Creative Industries support the role, providing $10,000 annually to cover honoraria and travel expenses as the poets roam the state spreading their craft.
The new role feels like coming full circle for Gibson, who said they started their poetry career reading locally in Colorado, then progressed to touring the country for months at a time. Because of their illness, Gibson can’t tour in the same way, but finds it fitting that they can get back to their roots in Colorado and share their love for the written and spoken word at home.
“Andrea Gibson is an inspiring Colorado artist,” Polis in a news release. “Andrea’s voice holds a fierce conviction in inspiring others to pursue art and take action toward solving social issues and they personify our Colorado for All spirit. I know Andrea will be a strong advocate for the arts and art education as a way to bring us together, has a strong desire for unity and to bring people together through poetry.”
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