Clint Smith's debut poetry collection, Counting Descent, is a coming of age story that seeks to complicate our conception of lineage and tradition.


Smith explores the cognitive dissonance that results from belonging to a community that unapologetically celebrates black humanity while living in a world that often renders blackness a caricature of fear. His poems move fluidly across personal and political histories, all the while reflecting on the social construction of our lived experiences. Smith brings the reader on a powerful journey forcing us to reflect on all that we learn growing up, and all that we seek to unlearn moving forward.


Praise


So many of these poems just blow me away. Incredibly beautiful and powerful.

- Michelle Alexander, Author of The New Jim Crow


In Counting Descent, Clint Smith reflects even the universe is telling us/ that we can never get too far// from the place that created us. Smith weaves histories, from collective to personal, to make indelible archetypes of those places that have created us all. These poems shimmer with revelatory intensity, approaching us from all sides to immerse us in the America that America so often forgets. The broad sweep of Smith's vision delivers a sudden awareness: In this poet's hands, we sense, like Rilke, there is no place that does not see you.

- Gregory Pardlo, Author of Digest


Counting Descent is a tightly-woven collection of poems whose pages act like an invitation to New Orleans, to the spades' table, to mom's kitchen, to the kiss on a woman's wrist, to conversations with hydrants and cicadas. The invitation is intimate and generous and also a challenge; are you up to asking what is blackness? What is black joy? How is black life loved and lived? To whom do we―this human We― look to for answers? This invitation is not to a narrow street, or a shallow lake, but to a vast exploration of life. And death. In a voice that has the echoes of Baldwin, but that also declares itself a singular voice, Smith extends: Maybe there's a place where everyone is both in love with and running from their own skin. Maybe that place is here. And you're invited.

- Elizabeth Acevedo, Author of Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths


Accolades


Winner, 2017 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Award


Finalist, 2017 NAACP Image Awards


2017 'One Book One New Orleans' Book Selection

In No Matter the Wreckage, Sarah Kay takes you on a profound journey through her self-discovery in New York.

Following her breakout poem B, this debut poetry collection showcases her accessible brilliance.

With each verse, Kay transports readers to a world of love, nostalgia, and life's wonders. Her elegant words celebrate family bonds, young love, travel, and the echoes of history shaping our present.

What sets No Matter the Wreckage apart is Kay's ability to find magic in the ordinary, painting intimate portraits of unlikely love affairs between objects and exploring whimsical topics.

This collection's transformative helps readers to find a sanctuary of words that uplift your spirit and ignite imagination. No Matter the Wreckage is a must-have for poetry lovers, an unforgettable journey.

We Will be Shelter stands as a powerful anthology of contemporary poems that unflinchingly confront issues of social justice.

What sets this collection apart is its unwavering commitment to inspiring positive transformation through the art of poetry. Within its pages, beautifully crafted verses take center stage, captivating readers with their evocative power.

This anthology serves as both a call to awareness and an invitation to introspection, urging readers to examine their role in shaping a just and equitable world. Through the eloquence of these poems, readers are compelled to take meaningful action, transforming empathy into activism and propelling society toward a brighter future.

*Half of all proceeds from this book go to the charity of Andrea Gibson's choice every year. In 2019, a donation was made to This is About Humanity.

Clnt Smth's deut poetry collecton, Countng Descent, s a comng of age story that seeks to complcate our concepton of lneage and tradton.


Smth explores the cogntve dssonance that results from elongng to a communty that unapologetcally celerates lack humanty whle lvng n a world that often renders lackness a carcature of fear. Hs poems move fludly across personal and poltcal hstores, all the whle reflectng on the socal constructon of our lved experences. Smth rngs the reader on a powerful journey forcng us to reflect on all that we learn growng up, and all that we seek to unlearn movng forward.


Prase


So many of these poems just low me away. Incredly eautful and powerful.

- Mchelle Alexander, Author of The New Jm Crow

In Countng Descent, Clnt Smth reflects even the unverse s tellng us/ that we can never get too far// from the place that created us. Smth weaves hstores, from collectve to personal, to make ndelle archetypes of those places that have created us all. These poems shmmer wth revelatory ntensty, approachng us from all sdes to mmerse us n the Amerca that Amerca so often forgets. The road sweep of Smth's vson delvers a sudden awareness: In ths poet's hands, we sense, lke Rlke, there s no place that does not see you.

- Gregory Pardlo, Author of Dgest

Countng Descent s a tghtly-woven collecton of poems whose pages act lke an nvtaton to New Orleans, to the spades' tale, to mom's ktchen, to the kss on a woman's wrst, to conversatons wth hydrants and ccadas. The nvtaton s ntmate and generous and also a challenge; are you up to askng what s lackness? What s lack joy? How s lack lfe loved and lved? To whom do we―ths human We― look to for answers? Ths nvtaton s not to a narrow street, or a shallow lake, ut to a vast exploraton of lfe. And death. In a voce that has the echoes of Baldwn, ut that also declares tself a sngular voce, Smth extends: Maye there's a place where everyone s oth n love wth and runnng from ther own skn. Maye that place s here. And you're nvted.

- Elzaeth Acevedo, Author of Beastgrl & Other Orgn Myths

Accolades

Wnner, 2017 Black Caucus of the Amercan Lrary Assocaton Lterary Award

Fnalst, 2017 NAACP Image Awards

2017 'One Book One New Orleans' Book Selecton

Megan Falley's much-anticipated fourth collection of poetry shocks you with its honesty: whether through exacting wit or lush lyrical imagery.

Falley has turned her personal experiences into public prose, exposing her queerness and the raw chasm between self-confidence and self-doubt. She's dissected moments in her own life that've helped her and her listeners comprehend a woman's existence on Earth. - Boulder Weekly

*National Poetry Slam Finalist
*Pushcart Prize Nominee

It is clear that the author is madly in love, not only with her partner for whom she writes both idiosyncratic and sultry poems for, but in love with language, in love with queerness, in love with the therapeutic process of bankrupting the politics of shame. These poems tackle gun violence, toxic masculinity, LGBTQ* struggles, suicidality, and the oppression of women's bodies, while maintaining a vivid wildness that the tongue aches to speak aloud. Known best for breathtaking last lines and truths that will bowl you over, Drive Here and Devastate Me will relinquish you from the possibility of meeting who you could have been, and regretting who you became.

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

Step into the enchanting world of Pansy, where author Andrea Gibson creates a tapestry of emotions and experiences that will leave your your mind craving more.

With an artful hand, Gibson seamlessly blends themes of love, gender, politics, sexuality, and forgiveness, painting a vivid portrait that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Through stunning imagery and a fearless exploration of healing, each moment spent immersed in these pages will be a revelation.

Pansy not only serves as a powerful call to action for the world we live in but also an enchanting celebration of wonder, longing, and the enduring power of love.

Barely Amazing: Selected Poems is an anthology of some of Shane's most requested poems on tour. This collection spans decades and includes works from many of his books.

In this collection, Shane skillfully takes the readers on a trek through deserts of loneliness, labyrinths of loss, and meadows of healing. The landscapes of our emotions range from the perilous to the serene, and these poems become a companion, a confidant, a source of

solace, and a survival guide for the reader.

Shane's unique voice weaves humor and storytelling into his verses. With levity as a setup for power, each poem promises to take you on a

zipline of emotions, leaving you both laughing and reflecting on life's miracles. While the freefall through our emotions may at times feel like a hazard, Shane creates a place to land safely without having to sacrifice the impact created by their velocity. These works are flint and tinder, wrestling as a tag team against the cold and dark we sometimes find ourselves lost in. The works contained within do not tell us where to dig for the buried treasure of our hearts... they remind us that the treasure does in fact exist, and they lay bare what is amazing about what our hearts can endure.

In his sixth poetry collection, Anis Mojgani's verses create the yearning for rebirth, thriving love-a love of self and tenderness in a sorrowful world.

Drawing inspiration from Rexroth and Lorca, Mojgani explores the joys of desire, both in the presence of others and during moments of solitude. These new poems reflect a touchless world, balancing loneliness and being alone.

Mojgani invites readers on a voyage of intimacy, planting ideas with hope and openness, ready to witness the flowers that bloom along the way.

Popular in queer communities, anti-war organizations, college campuses and women/gender studies programs, Andrea Gibson's second book of poems, The Madness Vase topics range from hate crimes to playgrounds, from international conflict to hometowns, from falling in love to the desperation of loneliness.

Gibson's work seizes us by the collar and hauls us inside some of their darkest moments, then releases to the other side. Moments later, we find ourselves inhaling words that fill us with light. Their luminous imagery is a buoy that allows us to resurface from their world clutching new possibilities of our own, and linger in our psyches and entreat us to action. They challenge us to grow into our own skin.
By the time you finish reading, 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.


Praise

If spoken word were professional boxing Andrea Gibson would be the light weight you don't think much of until she knocks you flat on your ass.

--The Denver Westword


Andrea Gibson is a truly American poet, or rather, she represents the America I want to live in. Beautiful, thoughtful and grounded, her poetry doesn't just give us an honest look at who we are today -- as a country and as a people--but also lights a candle to lead us where we need to go.

--Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz


Gibson is among the nation's most admired and emulated poets. Her verse is at once personal and political, feminist and universal, filled with incinerating verbs and metaphor, and delivered with gut punching urgency.

--Metaphor Media


Andrea Gibson's poems are active Volcano. They burn away and rebirth... a creation story in every line. They remind us that the world will keep spinning if we just push a little. This book will make you PUSH!

--Sonya Renee

A beautiful exploration of grief by one of the top selling poets in America.

*A Pushcart Prize Nominee.
*National Poetry Slam Individual Champion

..[Mojgani] is a gale force talent, a twirling dervish of lyric & the body's music...--Patricia Smith

Anis Mojgani's In the Pockets of Small Gods explores what we do with grief, long after the initial sadness has faded from our daily lives: how we learn to carry it without holding it, how our joy and our pain touch, and at times need one another. His latest collection of poetry touches on many kinds of sorrow, from the suicide of a best friend to a broken marriage to the current political climate.

Mojgani swings between the surreal imagery and direct vulnerability he is known for, all while giving the poems a direct frankness, softening whatever the weight may be. A book of leaves and petals as opposed to a book of stones, In the Pockets of Small Gods encapsulates the human experience in a way that is both deeply personal and astoundingly universal.

Songs from Under the River is a best-of collection, curated after six captivating years of national performances, features cherished verses carefully selected for Mojgani's third Write Bloody release.

This compilation is not limited to the well-known hits, it also houses hidden gems, personal favorite poems, and never-before-seen works, unveiling the artist's Nola spirit in its entirety.

Mojgani's words will hit deep within your heart, leaving you in awe of this strange world, a testament to the power of courageous desire.

After the Witch Hunt is a powerful and evocative collection of poetry that focuses on empowering silenced women and allowing their voices to be heard through the written word.

In Megan Falley's collection, liberated women emerge from captivity through powerful poetry, reflecting the author's intentions. The poems touch on resilience, self-expression, and personal growth with a blend of humor and brazen darkness, engaging and empowering readers on an inspiring journey of liberation.

The book is an ode to the strength and creativity of women.

Ashia Ajani is the product of migration. From Bentonia, Mississippi to Detroit, Michigan to Denver, Colorado, Ajani's family has carved out small sanctuaries for themselves among roses, concrete and urban gardens. Built of resilience, Ajani's family persisted, grew, fragmented, expanded, came back together. All the while, as members found themselves marred by history and placelessness, we passed down our stories, recipes, love of plants, old school wisdom. This story is one of how nature and humans are inextricably tied to one another and in fact, need each other to survive.

Drawing from an ecocritical perspective, Ajani imagines inheritance as what can be left for future generations, what can be passed down, what needs to be preserved, what earth lessons are most relevant to aid in weathering this ever-evolving world. During the climate crisis, our inheritances are part of an ever shifting landscape of environmental ruin and responsibility. This book speaks to the inalienable rights of Mother Earth and its descendants, as well as the Black insurgent knowledge needed to survive climate and environmental crises. Speaking from both a place of restoration and vengeance, Heirloom explores concepts of spiritual nourishment, physical and emotional sacrifice, environmental injustice, sexuality, waste colonialism and Black migration; these poems seek to address the trauma felt from environmental injustice and the familial wounds that are passed down as a result of historical neglect. A descendant of W.E.B DuBois's concept of sorrow songs, Heirloom analyzes our environmental pasts and presents in order to inform our environmental future. Through bird song, jazz, symbiosis, land loss, insect interactions, travel, desire and a whole lot of love and reverence for the unspoken, Heirloom reveals the ingrained connections between Blackness and ecological survival. Looking to the West as a final frontier, Ajani builds worlds from desert and ash, crushing them down once more in search of fresher freedoms.

Both fresh and wise, Kay's poetry allows readers to join in on her journey of discovering herself and the world around her.
Top-selling poet Sarah Kay releases her debut collection of work from the first decade of her career. Following the success of her breakout poem, B, No Matter the Wreckage presents readers with new and beloved work that showcases Kay's skill for celebrating family, love, travel, history, and unlikely love affairs between inanimate objects.

What does it mean to love someone well? What does it mean to be a good daughter, or a good wife? What does it look like to step outside the way these roles have been prescribed to us?

In her debut full-length collection, I Now Pronounce You, Caroline Earleywine explores these questions and more as she takes us on the journey of a daughter processing the emotional landscape of her parents' divorce, an Arkansas public school teacher coming to terms with her queerness, and a wife navigating the vulnerable work it takes to love your partner along with yourself as you both grow and change.

Earleywine's lyricism is as sharp as it is inviting, and so is her portrayal of a more nuanced truth. She leaves no stone unturned in her quest to free herself from the weight of shame and silence while trying to honor the truth of those around her.

She's a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, was a 2021 finalist for Nimrod's Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry, and has work in Glass: A Journal of Poetry, Barrelhouse, NAILED Magazine, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA from Queens University in Charlotte and her chapbook, Lesbian Fashion Struggles, was published with Sibling Rivalry Press in 2020. I Now Pronounce You is her first full-length collection. She lives in Little Rock with her wife and two dogs. You can keep up with her work at www.carolineearleywine.com.

In her electrifying debut, Franny Choi leads readers through the complex landscapes of absence, memory, and identity. Beginning in loss and ending in reflective elation, Floating, Brilliant, Gone explores life as a brief impossibility, infinite / until it isn't. Punctuated with haunting illustrations by Jess X. Snow, Choi's poems read like lucid dreams that jolt awake at the most unexpected moments.

The dark, sexy, and dangerous landscape of Redhead and the Slaughter King is illuminated by its truth-slinging author, Megan Falley.

More than a collection of poems, this book serves as a survival guide for anyone who has ever been a daughter.

Knotted with gritty tales of addiction, mental illness, and girlhood, this book is the prequel to every time someone asked the question, How did I end up here?

Unique to this anthology is its focus on creating positive social change through gorgeous, gusty poetry.
We Will be Shelter, edited by poet and activist Andrea Gibson, is an anthology of contemporary poems that addresses issues of social justice. Alongside and embedded in featured poems are concrete ways to address social and political issues raised. The goal of We Will be Shelter is to raise awareness, encourage critical self-reflection, and call readers to action.

The Smell of Good Mud explores the grit and splendor of collective living, queer parenting and other radical choices in the conservative landscape of Oklahoma.


Lauren Zuniga has made a name for herself for fearlessly confronting legislators and being an ambassador for the Heartland. This collection is the underbelly. No emotion is spared. No image is lost. It is a field guide to blisters and curtsies. It is a chronicle of women/children/animals coming together in a house named Clementine.


Praise


A voice that can change the game

- Daily Kos



She is brilliant. Her poem made me cry

- Governor Brad Henry



Dear Lauren, it is impossible to read your book without falling in love with you. I stopped reading before the end so I wouldn't show up on your Oklahoma porch wearing a baby blue tuxedo, ring in hand, begging you to stuff a fistful of cake in my mouth.

- Andrea Gibson