This week on My Poetic Side, we look at articles about the death of the poet and performance artist Andrea Gibson, and the shortlist for the Forward Poetry Prize.

Andrea Gibson, Poet and Performance Artist, Dies Aged 49

The poet and performance artist Andrea Gibson, who had been the Poet Laureate of Colorado since 2023 and used they/them pronouns, has died at the age of 49, four years after being diagnosed with cancer.

A statement on Instagram announced their death and began with a quote from their work:

The statement continued by saying,

The statement mentioned that whilst Gibson had accomplished much during their time on the planet, they had desperately hoped to live a much longer life; however, they could not have lived a fuller one

Gibson was born in August 1975 in Calais, Maine. “Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns”, their first collection, was published in 2008. The main themes that ran through their work were gender identity, social justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Gibson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. The cancer reoccurred the following year, resulting in a cancelled tour. “Come See Me in the Good Light” was a 2025 documentary that followed Gibson and their wife during Gibson’s chemotherapy.

A statement from the Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, called Gibson an inspiring poet, saying that Colorado would mourn their loss. Polis said they were “truly one of a kind” who would be deeply missed by friends and those who had been touched by their poetry.

Forward Prizes for Poetry – British Sign Language Poets on Shortlist

The poets Raymond Antrobus, a former winner of the TS Eliot Prize, and Zoe McWhinney have both been shortlisted for this year’s Forward Prizes for Poetry. This year marks the first time that the prize has been opened to poems performed in British Sign Language. McWhinney is shortlisted for “The Portrait and the Skylight” whilst Antrobus is being considered for “Dynamic Disks.”

Themes on this year’s shortlist include toxic relationships, faith and colonialism, border crossings, sexuality, and gentrification.

This year, there will be prizes in four categories, with £10,000 for the Best Collection, £5000 for the Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection, £1000 for the Best Single Poem – written and also £1000 for the Best Single Poem – performed. A ceremony will be held on 26^th October to announce the winners.

This year’s shortlist is particularly strong when it comes to entries from independent presses, with 8 of the 10 collections published by indie publishers. The judges felt that this year the shortlist that they have chosen is a clear indication of how poetry can be seen to be a “rallying call” and the selection of poetry was particularly eclectic, featuring poems that were lyrical and musical, bawdy, bold and political and prosaic.