Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns

If you haven't read, seen or heard Andrea do so! If you've seen or heard Andrea, get her book and support her! You won't regret it.Photograph“I wish I was a photographtucked into the corners of your walletI wish I was a photographyou carried like a future in your pocketI wish I was that face you show to strangerswhen they ask you where you come fromI wish I was that someone that you come fromevery time you get thereand when you get thereI wish I was that someone who got phone callsand postcards sayingwish you were hereI wish you were hereautumn is the hardest seasonthe leaves are all fallingand they’re falling like they’re falling in love with the groundand the trees are naked and lonelyI keep trying to tell themnew leaves will come around in the springbut you can’t tell trees those thingsthey’re like me they just stand thereand don’t listenI wish you were hereI’ve been missing you like crazyI’ve been hazy eyedstaring at the bottom of my glass againthinking of that time when it was so fullit was like we were tapping the moon for moonshineor sticking straws into the center of the sunand sipping like icarus would forever kissthe bullets from our gunsI never meant to fire you knowI know you never meant to fire loverI know we never meant to hurt each othernow the sky clicks from black to blueand dusk looks like a bruiseI’ve been wrapping one night standsaround my body like wedding bandsbut none of them fit in the morningthey just slip off my fingers and slip out the doorand all that lingers is the scent of youI once swore if I threw that scent into a wishing wellall the wishes in the world would come truedo you rememberdo you remember the night I told youI’ve never seen anything more perfect thanthan snow falling in the glow of a street lightelectricity bowing to naturemind bowing to heartbeatthis is gonna hurt bowing to I love youI still love you like moons love the planets they circle aroundlike children love recess bellsI still hear the sound of youand think of playgroundswhere outcasts who stutterbeneath braces and bruises and acneare finally learning that their rich handsome bulliesare never gonna grow up to be happyI think of happy when I think of youso wherever you are I hope you’re happyI really doI hope the stars are kissing your cheeks tonightI hope you finally found a way to quit smokingI hope your lungs are open and breathing your lifeI hope there’s a kite in your handthat’s flying all the way up to orionand you still got a thousand yards of string to let outI hope you’re smilinglike god is pulling at the corners of your mouthcause I might be naked and lonelyshaking branches for bonesbut I’m still time zones awayfrom who I was the day before we metyou were the first milewhere my heart broke a sweatand I wish you were hereI wish you’d never leftbut mostly I wish you wellI wish you my very very best”

I wasn't really sure what I was getting into when I first purchased this book. I was really scouring the internet to find a good poetry book for a class and I -- either being obnoxious or trying to be quirky -- found this book and bought it almost solely because I adored the title. Now I do not recommend impulse buys, but if you're going to buy it, here's a little information about the novel. (Note I am not a professional this is just my opinion)THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT POLE DANCING TO GOSPEL HYMNS: IT'S ABOUT IRONY AND PAINFUL TRUTHS LIKE THE TITLE REPRESENTS.So if you're mind is set on a pretty girl strutting her stuff, stop right there buddy.This book offers insight into a lot of different problems that currently face and plague humanity and then offer solutions in graceful and peaceful ways but being strong all at the same time. It's about standing up for what you as the reader believe in to help crush injustices the world faces, a specific quote from El Mozote provides this vision perfectly"We who walk among the land of the relatively freehave an obligation to hunt down truthhave an obligation to lift our voices against any more paininflicted on anyone in our names."Gibson's messages are easily accessible to the reader who is willing to see the injustice of a system. The book touches on every aspect of inequality, from race to sexuality to rape, but also touches on the subject of love. Personally I hate reading multiple poems about love because they get gross and cliche and boring. (We get it, you dig this person) But she breaks up the love poems with the other messages in the book (Which might be her way of describing life ((It's not all about love))) Some of the poems are long and kind of long, and sometimes get a bit ranty, but the conflicts of the poem are reinforced by these repetitious techniques used. Also some of these poems are incredibly hard to read because of how graphic they get in content, but now a days the only way to get a person's attention is by a slap in the face and I think it drives the message further than any bulls*** garbage censored content would ever provide. It's very enlightening.If you're looking for something as a fun read, I wouldn't recommend.but if you're looking for raw emotions, to feel things in a way that can't exactly be explained, a new outlook,buy this. You will not be disappointed.

I’m not big on poetry, most of the time I’ve got no idea what the poets even saying. This was written so easy to understand and I absolutely loved it! The way she uses words to make comparisons that are just weird and funny kind of blew my mind because who thinks that way? It’s one of those books I want to eat the words to make it mine but I will never be able to write that well. If you enjoy poetry I absolutely suggest you pick this up!

This is the most amazing book I have ever read in my life. Her peorty speaks volumes. I found myself reading so many of these to my husband. I feel like her words helped me to describe how I was feeling in a way I couldn't express. Andrea Gibson has the most beautiful soul. Her poetry radiates love, hope, pain, and truth. If you buy 1 poetry book in your entire life, read this. It has changed my life. <3 - Caitlyn

I am a huge fan of performance/slam poetry, so naturally I had heard a lot about Andrea Gibson, and have had the pleasure of seeing her perform. This collection is great for someone like me who has an appreciation for the genre. People who are more interested in page poetry may not enjoy this book as much, as many of the poems are a bit longer and may not read as well if not read aloud. Regardless, Gibson tackles some important issues over the course of this book, with everything from gender and sexuality to politics and race, plus some heartfelt poems about love and loss here and there.

This is an amazing collection of poems. It makes me want to scream, shout, smile, laugh, cry, fume, make placards, work at a shelter, and hug every person I meet... all at the same time. There are touching moments, and also moments of humour. Her poems are brutally honest in a strangely uplifting and incredibly motivating way. I highly recommend also buying her CDs/MP3s on Amazon, of her performances of some of these poems - she is as talented at performing them as she is at writing them and packs an emotional punch. The way in which she makes us aware of the problems and flaws in the world (and in ourselves) yet empowers that knowledge with an equal love of the world and ourselves, is remarkable. The timing is great, the observations are insightful and the wording is fresh. Read it!

I wish I could put my favourite parts in this review, but I don't think there's space for the whole book to be reproduced, also I think I might break some copy writing law. I know I'm going to be going back to this book time and again because it's that kind of book. And each time I do go back, I expect to find something different, something I missed before and I can hardly wait.

This is witty, elegant and inspiring writing that will get you thinking, smiling. One day I hope to become as good as her. The phenomenal one, talented and amazing. She makes you crazy. Buy the book, it's really ace. It's that damn good. You won't be disappointed. Truly awesome. If you have never read poetry this will put a smile on your face. Best item I have ever bought. Peace!

these books have errors in which really annoyed me until i just decided to correct them myself and now it feels more authentic. andrea gibson aint perfect!

Fantastically good poetry and beautifully illustrated, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Some poems I read over and over on the first reading because they were too good not to.