- Katherine D.
- Tuesday, May 17, 2022
May is nestled between April, which is National Poetry Month, and June, which is Pride Month. So I thought I would pay homage to the intersection of these months and highlight LGBTQ+ poets.
"I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?"
Poetry has a special place in my heart. It has been an anchor and an outlet for me through some difficult times in my life. I remember sitting on the front porch of the house I shared with my college roommates, writing poetry. And some of the most powerful moments I know are those when I discover a new poem that speaks something important to me.
Poets have a unique gift of being able to create words that transcend time and place. Their words can sit with someone, healing a wound or giving them space to breathe, indefinitely. A poem does not end when it is written onto a page; it goes on and on, becoming something new for each person who discovers it.
One of the poets whose words have been this special balm for me is Mary Oliver. She wrote primarily of nature, her love and joy, and is one of the most beloved writers of our time. She was a lesbian and lived most of her life with her partner and soulmate on Cape Cod. Oliver was a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, though she probably would not have mentioned that in talking about her life. She probably would have just been glad that her experiences got to be poems, and those poems got to be experienced by people. My favorite poems by Mary Oliver include “Wild Geese” and “I Worried”.
"Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang."
Recently, I discovered a poet who also has this special magic. Andrea Gibson is a non-binary poet, writer, activist, speaker, and performer. Their book You Better Be Lightning is one of the most touching poetry books I’ve read, and their poem “Acceptance Speech After Setting the World Record in Goosebumps” has quickly become my favorite poem. It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it (and I do frequently these days). Gibson writes about love, social reform, and the ways we hurt people, and what we do with all that hurt. Their words are an achingly beautiful testament to the LGBTQ+ community. Below is a video of Andrea Gibson performing “Acceptance Speech After Setting the World Record in Goosebumps”.
These are just two out of a multitude of poets who identify as LGBTQ+ and have shaped the poetry world in vast ways. Check out the list below of poetry books in our collection by LGBTQ+ writers.
And if you want to give poetry writing a try or flex your spoken word muscles, check out these events coming up!
Poetry for Life: Poetry on the Patio- May 21 at Richland Library Southeast
Open Mic- Asian American Heritage Month Edition (In-Person and Virtual)- May 25 at Richland Library Main
Prompt and Circumstance Creative Writing Club- June 13 and July 11- Online
Creative Writing for Teens- June 14, July 12, August 9 at Richland Library Sandhills
Open Mic @ North Main- Juneteenth Summer Learning Kick-Off (In-Person and Virtual)- June 29 at Richland Library North Main