s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]’s review of You Better Be Lightning > Likes and Comments

How can this be true, Steve? I just found Gibson this morning while doing a Google search for poems about "being the storm," or "being the lightning" I am stunned. I read through two of their poems, and I am entranced, and now, saddened. We have lost such a voice, and I have only found them. I hope they wouldn't mind, but I am going to a Good Trouble Protest Thursday night, and I am going to make my sign read: YOU BETTER BE LIGHTNING Andrea Gibson 1975-2025.

I just found Andrea today and thought why have haven’t I met them before. Their words are like light and love and compassion and so moving, so I am sad and glad at the same time. That them family and friends will miss them dearly and that I have found Andrea Gibson’s poetry. Have a good trouble protest. I absolutely never been to one, I

Cookie M. wrote: "How can this be true, Steve? I just found Gibson this morning while doing a Google search for poems about "being the storm," or "being the lightning" I am stunned. I read through two of their poems..."

Oooo good choice. They had a really good protest poem too, here it is in entirety:

Constellations Rearrange Themselves into a Protest Sign

Every uprising has
the universe
on their side

That's not a horizon
that's the earth
drawing the line.

What a huge loss though, they were SO cool and their first collection was a huge favorite of mine in college. Glad you discovered them though at least! Would HIGHLY recommend this collection or Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns

Felice wrote: "I just found Andrea today and thought why have haven’t I met them before. Their words are like light and love and compassion and so moving, so I am sad and glad at the same time. That them family a..."

Oh I'm so glad that you discovered them though--never too late! SO good right!? A coworker informed me they passed yesterday and we were sending favorites back and forth and at one point were both all teared up like oh no we are so sad. Which...I feel Gibson would appreciate? Hope you enjoy, would certainly recommend this collection or Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns which was the one that got me obsessed to begin with, but you can't go wrong with any.

What???

So sad. I didn’t know they had cancer.

Marcy wrote: "So sad. I didn’t know they had cancer."

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa such a bummer. I guess they just did a documentary about death thats supposed to be amazing, I need to check that out but whew that might make me super sad now

Death is part of life. The seamlessness of her death is what so impresses me. Andrea Gibson Presente❣️

This is such a beautiful review and such a loss! I hadn’t heard of them prior to a few days ago when I began to see so many of their poems shared online, and each one just got me right in the heart. Thank you for sharing so many of their poems in your lovely homage, I hope to pick up one of their books soon!

Oh such sad news - I didn't know that they had passed away. The poems of Andrea Gibson are special, I'm so glad to see you enjoyed them - and as always, great review.

Sonja wrote: "Death is part of life. The seamlessness of her death is what so impresses me. Andrea Gibson Presente❣️"

Oh wow that is such a lovely way to phrase it. And so true. Farewell, Andrea Gibson, what a great poet

Stephanie B wrote: "This is such a beautiful review and such a loss! I hadn’t heard of them prior to a few days ago when I began to see so many of their poems shared online, and each one just got me right in the heart..."

yeaaaaaaa thats how I found out--any time everyone starts sharing poems by the same poet I'm immediately like oh shit who died (or won the Nobel prize haha). Aren't they fantastic? I think you'd REALLY like this collection and Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns is wildly good too

leuveen wrote: "Oh such sad news - I didn't know that they had passed away. The poems of Andrea Gibson are special, I'm so glad to see you enjoyed them - and as always, great review."

Yea just this week, its so sad. What a fantastic poet, glad you enjoy them as well!

I love Andrea Gibson and I feel like their passing is such a loss. Andrea was so full of life and love and wisdom, and had some very beautiful words to say about their passing. “Dying is the opposite of leaving. I want to echo it through the corridors of your temple. I am more with you than I ever was before.” Excellent review for an excellent book of poetry and life wisdom.

Lindsay wrote: "I love Andrea Gibson and I feel like their passing is such a loss. Andrea was so full of life and love and wisdom, and had some very beautiful words to say about their passing. “Dying is the opposi..."

Oh wow yes that is such a perfect quote! What a huge loss, they were amazing and I love how involved with activism they were. I saw they have a documentary they made recently on the topic of death and I really need to see that.

Beautiful and such an emotional review and study! 😊

Wow… this was beautiful. You really honoured Andrea Gibson in the most thoughtful way. I felt every word. I haven’t even read the book yet and I’m already moved. You captured so much feeling—it’s like a love letter to their legacy. Thank you for writing this. 🕊️💗

L.A. wrote: "Beautiful and such an emotional review and study! 😊"

Thank you so much! They were such a wonderful poet

Maddy ✨ wrote: "Wow… this was beautiful. You really honoured Andrea Gibson in the most thoughtful way. I felt every word. I haven’t even read the book yet and I’m already moved. You captured so much feeling—it’s l..."

Thank you so much! What a huge loss, they were fantastic. Would definitely recommend this collection. But thank you, writing this was really cathartic

I will let you all know what the response is to my Andrea Gibson protest sign tonight at the Good Trouble March. My daughter did a wonderful job making it.

Cookie M. wrote: "I will let you all know what the response is to my Andrea Gibson protest sign tonight at the Good Trouble March. My daughter did a wonderful job making it."

Oh excellent, hope it is a good time! I was actually at a protest earlier this afternoon, I should have made an Andrea Gibson sign

Your writing is so beautiful!

oh, my heart.

I had the privilege of seeing them perform twice, and took a poetry workshop once, in what feels like another life, but I hadn't kept up in recent years. I still wear the Pansy shirt that matches the book cover by the same name every week. I hope they knew what their work meant to people, and will continue to mean for people.

Sarah ♡ wrote: "Your writing is so beautiful!"

Thank you so much that means a lot!

What a wonderfully written tribute! I loved reading it.

Beautiful review, thank you! I just learned about them yesterday and will definitely start reading their works!

Ashley (semi-hiatus) wrote: "oh, my heart."

What a huge loss

Charles wrote: "I had the privilege of seeing them perform twice, and took a poetry workshop once, in what feels like another life, but I hadn't kept up in recent years. I still wear the Pansy shirt that matches t..."

Wait that is AMAZING! I’m so glad you got to see them (I imagine a poetry workshop would have been mind blowing haha). That’s incredible though. Me too, I hope they realized how many hearts they touched. I feel like Gibson is one if you’ve heard of you completely adore their work

Priya wrote: "What a wonderfully written tribute! I loved reading it."

Thank you so much, they were such a cool poet and person

Beautiful tribute and review! I'm so excited to read their work and saddened there won't be any more. They seem wonderful and wise- voices like that are always a joy to read.

Lauren wrote: "Beautiful review, thank you! I just learned about them yesterday and will definitely start reading their works!"

Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy, they were fantastic

Diane (So far behind I've forgotten what it's like to be caught up) wrote: "Beautiful tribute and review! I'm so excited to read their work and saddened there won't be any more. They seem wonderful and wise- voices like that are always a joy to read."

Yeaaaa what a huge loss, they were so amazing. But glad we still have their poems. And thank you so much!

I only learned about Andrea on the day they died and I am still catching up. This is a really beautiful review and tribute.