Oh - this cracks me open. I saw an Insta post of them speaking earlier today and didn't know why, who they were, that they had passed. And now that I see this post, I'm just broken because this voice is gone. Of course I can still find it, hear it, but I want them to still be adding new words, more wisdom, to this world. All of five or ten minutes is what it took to see the truth they held and shared.
Thank you for these beautiful words and heartfelt tribute Jeannine💗 you and Andrea remind us that we are never gone but are ‘reincarnated in those we love while they are still alive.’ Comforting. 💙
I have been consumed by sadness, coming and going in waves since yesterday, in between school drop off and pickup, just after finishing dinner, while folding clothes, or listening to the juvenile hawk’s hauntingly loud screeches on our backyard pine. I didn’t know I could feel this kind of grief for someone I only knew online, through their words. And yet, it feels like a personal loss. I’m grateful for their voice recordings, their truth, their light. I’m reminded of my own mortality and the fragility of everything we take for granted. I feel at sea and yet I’ve felt comforted by this communal grieving. Thank you for this, Jeannine…the opportunity to hold on to whilst also simultaneously release…
I love this, Jeannine. Andrea was one of the first contemporary poets I fell in love with. There is a clear, raw honesty to their work that I had never really felt from poetry before. They were a beacon. (Like a next-Gen Mary Oliver, but so uniquely their own voice.) I never got to hear them read live, although they lived in my town. Their words gave life to my own grief about severe illness at a time when I couldn’t find them. This is such a deep loss for the writing world and for the Colorado community that loved them so. My heart is heavy.
A beautiful tribute Jeannine. I am so sad that we've lost Andrea in their physical form, and so grateful for their words and wisdom that continue to ripple outwards ❤
When I read that Andrea Gibson had died, like you Jeannine, something in me went still. They has been arms that held me when I in the heat of cancer and treatment. They pulled me from the deep sorrow that was flattening me. I've been reading her poems throughout the day so she would continue to stay with me.
Thank you Jeannine for beautiful words to mark this moment, I was up at 4am last night reading comments on IG but couldn’t add a word, too sad! That we can all inhale a little of Andrea and the sky moving forward… ⭐️
Sorry you lost your good friend. Glad for the wisdom and kindness you get to keep and the love you still feel.
I know we all have to identify and deal with our “shadows” on good advice of Carolyn Myss but I advise not giving too much power to darkness even knowing you are smarting today and it feels dark. I can see the view and nice rhetoric that darkness may have some truth to bring light to its knees but for real-light won’t stay down long! The sun will be seen tomorrow to remove all vestiges of darkness for another day. We all need to lighten up as the darkness tries to encompass us. Of course death feels pretty sad and dark- lights out here and now, seemingly from this time forth.
One of my favorite quotes I hold dear is from my teacher in Christian Science who told us: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one tiny flame. That’s how powerless darkness is.” I know healing will come as you are such a delightful writer who will write this into right perspective and appreciation as you did here. The arc of healing from such loss tho is long.
I am ashamed to admit that I have only minimal knowledge of Andrea Gibson and their work. Seeing the great outpouring of grief for them, and the reposting of many of thier writings on Substack, I find myself hungry to fully appreciate this brilliant poet. For those of you familiar with their work, where should I begin? How should I progress?
Hi Craig, I would say, start on YouTube. They are a spoken word poet. There is nothing like listening to them read their work. Then after that you might find her books. I loved ‘You’d better be lightning’.
I will admit I was unfamiliar with Andrea Gibson, until I watched a video of her yesterday, sitting outside with her wife, Megan Falley, reading a poem she wrote—it was deeply, deeply moving.
"That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here," Gibson read. "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. I am more with you than I ever could have imagined."
Wow. It’s like you / this opened the door and we could peek inside eternity to see how free they are. And how much tenderness and compassion they have for those of us still here. Peace be with us.
Jeanine, just crazy here too managing so much bureaucracy and slow moving in a wheelchair. Think the cast comes of of Friday though! We are also very slow to know how to move anything forward. and I owe you some ideas about dates. Which I won’t really have until I know more about how and when I can travel post ankle break. All of this is a puzzle. And today, I celebrate the puzzle . Love.
I loved every word of this tribute to Andrea, thank you for describing our shared grief so eloquently and reminding us their words are with us always. Look forward to our gratitude practice together 💗
Oh - this cracks me open. I saw an Insta post of them speaking earlier today and didn't know why, who they were, that they had passed. And now that I see this post, I'm just broken because this voice is gone. Of course I can still find it, hear it, but I want them to still be adding new words, more wisdom, to this world. All of five or ten minutes is what it took to see the truth they held and shared.
A lovely tribute to a very bright light.
Thank you for these beautiful words. I’ve been feeling their loss most profoundly.
Thank you for these beautiful words and heartfelt tribute Jeannine💗 you and Andrea remind us that we are never gone but are ‘reincarnated in those we love while they are still alive.’ Comforting. 💙
Beautifully written tribute, Jeannine. Thank you for sharing this.
I have been consumed by sadness, coming and going in waves since yesterday, in between school drop off and pickup, just after finishing dinner, while folding clothes, or listening to the juvenile hawk’s hauntingly loud screeches on our backyard pine. I didn’t know I could feel this kind of grief for someone I only knew online, through their words. And yet, it feels like a personal loss. I’m grateful for their voice recordings, their truth, their light. I’m reminded of my own mortality and the fragility of everything we take for granted. I feel at sea and yet I’ve felt comforted by this communal grieving. Thank you for this, Jeannine…the opportunity to hold on to whilst also simultaneously release…
I love this, Jeannine. Andrea was one of the first contemporary poets I fell in love with. There is a clear, raw honesty to their work that I had never really felt from poetry before. They were a beacon. (Like a next-Gen Mary Oliver, but so uniquely their own voice.) I never got to hear them read live, although they lived in my town. Their words gave life to my own grief about severe illness at a time when I couldn’t find them. This is such a deep loss for the writing world and for the Colorado community that loved them so. My heart is heavy.
A beautiful tribute Jeannine. I am so sad that we've lost Andrea in their physical form, and so grateful for their words and wisdom that continue to ripple outwards ❤
I'm just so sad.
Me, too. So, so sad
I am glad you are here with us, Leslie.
When I read that Andrea Gibson had died, like you Jeannine, something in me went still. They has been arms that held me when I in the heat of cancer and treatment. They pulled me from the deep sorrow that was flattening me. I've been reading her poems throughout the day so she would continue to stay with me.
What a beautiful practice and way to keep her memory a blessing, Ray.
Thank you Jeannine for beautiful words to mark this moment, I was up at 4am last night reading comments on IG but couldn’t add a word, too sad! That we can all inhale a little of Andrea and the sky moving forward… ⭐️
"That we can all inhale a little of Andrea and the sky moving forward..." just so moving, Tasha.
The outpouring of sheer grief. To be loved so well. I know they feel it.
Sorry you lost your good friend. Glad for the wisdom and kindness you get to keep and the love you still feel.
I know we all have to identify and deal with our “shadows” on good advice of Carolyn Myss but I advise not giving too much power to darkness even knowing you are smarting today and it feels dark. I can see the view and nice rhetoric that darkness may have some truth to bring light to its knees but for real-light won’t stay down long! The sun will be seen tomorrow to remove all vestiges of darkness for another day. We all need to lighten up as the darkness tries to encompass us. Of course death feels pretty sad and dark- lights out here and now, seemingly from this time forth.
One of my favorite quotes I hold dear is from my teacher in Christian Science who told us: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one tiny flame. That’s how powerless darkness is.” I know healing will come as you are such a delightful writer who will write this into right perspective and appreciation as you did here. The arc of healing from such loss tho is long.
That includes the light seemingly lost today. The love goes on.
Well that is a very beautiful quote, Penni, about the dark not being able to extinguish the light. Let it be so, and so it is.
I am ashamed to admit that I have only minimal knowledge of Andrea Gibson and their work. Seeing the great outpouring of grief for them, and the reposting of many of thier writings on Substack, I find myself hungry to fully appreciate this brilliant poet. For those of you familiar with their work, where should I begin? How should I progress?
Hi Craig, I would say, start on YouTube. They are a spoken word poet. There is nothing like listening to them read their work. Then after that you might find her books. I loved ‘You’d better be lightning’.
Thank you, Lara.
I will admit I was unfamiliar with Andrea Gibson, until I watched a video of her yesterday, sitting outside with her wife, Megan Falley, reading a poem she wrote—it was deeply, deeply moving.
"That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here," Gibson read. "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. I am more with you than I ever could have imagined."
Wow. It’s like you / this opened the door and we could peek inside eternity to see how free they are. And how much tenderness and compassion they have for those of us still here. Peace be with us.
Yes, yes. Love to you, Alecia. I owe you an email. It's been -- an overwhelming summer. But I'll be in touch!!!!
Jeanine, just crazy here too managing so much bureaucracy and slow moving in a wheelchair. Think the cast comes of of Friday though! We are also very slow to know how to move anything forward. and I owe you some ideas about dates. Which I won’t really have until I know more about how and when I can travel post ankle break. All of this is a puzzle. And today, I celebrate the puzzle . Love.
I loved every word of this tribute to Andrea, thank you for describing our shared grief so eloquently and reminding us their words are with us always. Look forward to our gratitude practice together 💗
Amy, your presence here, every word you say ... it never fails to lift my spirit. You are so very special. I am lucky to know you.
This kind message from you lifted my spirits today, Jeannine. 💗
So grateful for this today and for all the beautiful souls in this space. Love and light.
Love you, Emily. You're a lot like Andrea.
❤️ Incredible words to live into. Love you, too.