TLDR
Andrea Gibson was a lauded poet who focused on many themes, including LGBTQ identity and chronic illness. Through her widow, Megan Falley, Gibson's legacy is alive and growing.
Andrea Gibson, who used gender-neutral pronouns “they/them,” was an American poet who became Colorado’s 10th Poet Laureate. Gibson was also a performer and activist, particularly known for their work tackling gender norms, queer identity, LGBTQ+ topics and social issues.
The author of several poetry collections, Gibson won the inaugural 2008 Women of the World Poetry Slam. Their most recent collection, “You Better Be Lightning,” was published in 2021.
Gibson also released seven albums of spoken word and performance poetry, including “Hey Galaxy” in 2018. They were the subject of the documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light,” also available as a book.
In 2021, Gibson was commissioned to write a Substack newsletter, naming it Things That Don’t Suck. A couple of weeks after signing the contract, they were admitted to hospital to undergo an emergency hysterectomy. A diagnosis of ovarian cancer followed. They decided to keep the name, Things That Don’t Suck, and to continue to look for and put into words the beautiful things in life: the things that didn’t suck amid the grief of a terminal illness. Gibson’s diagnosis also fed into their poetry, which followed the themes of politics, gender identity and their four-year ordeal with ovarian cancer.
Fans of Gibson note that their poetry helped them love and accept themselves, while also speaking to people living with a terminal diagnosis. Their work made readers less afraid of death and reminded them that we never really leave the people we love.
Gibson wrote a prose poem titled “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” which they published on Substack in 2023. In it they wrote, “Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.”
A Life in Poetry
Born in Calais, Maine on August 13, 1975, Gibson relocated to Boulder, Colorado in 1999. Born and raised in a Baptist family, Gibson’s work is rooted in an intense recognition of, and compassion for, a shared humanity. Their work featured themes of sexuality, love and personal tragedy.
Gibson was a gifted spoken-word performer, sometimes referred to as a rock star of poetry slams. Much of their spoken-word poetry is available for streaming on both Spotify and YouTube.
In 2025 director Ryan White captured Gibson’s cancer journey in the celebrated documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light.” The release of the film was an emotional moment for Gibson and wife Megan Falley, who had not been sure the poet would live to see its release.
On July 14, 2025, Falley announced Gibson’s death from ovarian cancer at age 49. They were surrounded by their wife, parents, four ex-partners, friends and the couple’s beloved dogs. Falley, a poet, essayist, memoirist and poetry teacher, continues to post on Gibson’s Substack newsletter, Things That Don’t Suck.
Speaking to NPR about her wife’s poetry, Falley said, “Andrea’s work, I think, always — they always used their pen to poke holes in the dark and bring light into any situation.”
Poetry Collections by Andrea Gibson
In this queer, feminist, political collection of poems, Gibson moves between deeply personal introspection and the vastness of the world. They explore themes central to the human experience, touching on topics as diverse as illness, climate change and space.
While praising the collection, some critics have noted that it does not feel as well-rounded as some of Gibson’s other collections. There is a sense that the shorter poems are flashes of the brilliance for which Gibson is known, while some of the longer-form poems can feel a little muddled.
Reviews
The poems within this collection are referenced as artful and nuanced examinations of gender, romance, loss and family. One reviewer referred to the collection as having an emphasis on mental health.
Reviews
This pocket-sized book is marketed as “A book small enough to carry with you, with messages big enough to stay with you.” Split into three sections, Love, The World and Becoming, it contains a mixture of poems, phrases and one liners. It has also been illustrated with line drawings by Sarah J. Coleman. It has been compared to the work of poet Rupi Kaur and writer Cheryl Strayed. Critics praise its “honesty and beautifully rendered language”. Simultaneously, some online readers have commented less favorably, remarking that some of the poems barely scratch the surface, feeling unfinished.
Reviews
Described as containing “stunning imagery and a fierce willingness to to delve in what it means to truly heal,” this collection is also a demand for political action. Writing in The Rumpus, critic Julie Marie Wade was initially concerned that Gibson’s proficiency at spoken word might not translate so well into print. She described Gibson’s poetry in this collection as “inspiring without being inspirational,” and “instructive without slipping into the shallows of self-help.”
Reviews
This collection is popular within the queer community and anti-war organizations. It is also well-read on college campuses, particularly women and gender studies programmes. The poems contain themes varying from hate crimes, international conflict and loneliness. Author Sonya Renee states that Gibson’s poems are “active Volcano” that remind us the world will keep on spinning if we just push a little.
Reviews
Gibson’s debut, imaginatively titled collection presents hauntingly original poetry. The poems attempt to deconstruct the political climate of the era, tackling issues around the psychological trauma of war veterans. The poems are referenced as being “rich in the kind of questioning that inspires action.”
Reviews
Co-authored by Megan Falley, this collection is described as a “How To” book, this sets out to prove that poetry is for everyone. It encourages readers to find poetry in unexpected places, providing a transformative experience. Readers have commented on its straightforward and practical advice.
Reviews
This book is an anthology of poems addressing social justice issues. It is edited by Gibson. The goal of the collection is to raise awareness of social and political issues and to call readers to action.
Reviews
Gibson’s Spoken Word and Performance Poetry Albums
‘Hey Galaxy’ (2018)
Contains 17 songs and is available for MP3 download via Amazon.
‘Truce’ (2013)
This is a single-track download available on Spotify and an album available on Apple Music.
‘Flower Boy’ (2011)
The full album is available for streaming and download on Spotify and Apple Music.
Political Activism
Gibson was known for their political activism, particularly around issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. They also used their poetry, spoken-word performances and albums to address political and social issues, such as the treatment of veterans.
In their poem “For Eli” Gibson tackles the issue of America’s treatment of veterans:
“Eli came back from Iraq
And tattooed a teddy bear onto the inside of his wrist
Above that a medic with an IV bag
Above that an angel
But Eli says the teddy bear won’t live
And I know I don’t know but I say, “I know”
Cause Eli’s only 24 and I’ve never seen eyes
Further away from childhood than his.”
Her poem “Ashes” discusses the issue of the brutal murder of homosexuals:
“The night I was torn from the pages of their Bible
and burned alive
my ashes came down like snow
and a girl who had never seen my face
saw me falling from the sky
and laid down on her back
to make an angel in the powder of my bones.”
Awards
Gibson won many awards and honors for their work, including:
2023 first place for poetry in the Feathered Quill Book Awards and a 2022 gold medal for poetry in the Independent Publisher Book Awards for “You Better Be Lightning.”
Their collection Lord of the Butterflies won the following awards:
- 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards – Gold Medal Winner (Poetry)
- 2019 Midwest Independent Publishing Awards – Winner (Poetry)
- 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards – Winner (Poetry)
- 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards – Finalist (Best Poetry Book)
- 2018 Foreword Reviews INDIES Awards – Finalist (Poetry)
They were also a four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion, the 2004 National Poetry Slam Champion, and placed third in both the 2006 and 2007 Individual World Poetry Slams.
Documentary Film: ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’
In 2025, director Ryan White released the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light. The film features an intimate portrayal of Gibson and Falley as they negotiate love and joy in the face of loss.
The film includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. Screening at Sundance in January 2025, the documentary left many audience members in tears as Gibson explained they had not expected to live long enough to see its release. The film went on to win the Festival Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Response to the premiere was generally positive. Overall, reviewers appreciated the frank, funny and inspirational message of the film, while the Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes describes it as an emotionally searing yet gently radiant portrait.
Andrea Gibson’s Quotes On Writing
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