Description
Inspired by inaugural poets of the past, Inauguration is a collection of poems crafted in response to the commencement of a new administration. Writing out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, one of the most divided cities in the country, Goodwin and Wilkinson trade ruminations of survival in a hostile political climate. Yet Inauguration transcends partisan rhetoric. It is a rallying call to reflect back as we collectively forge our way forward.
Author Bios
Idris Goodwin uses the written and spoken word to incite and inspire. An award-winning writer/performer who coined the term “break beat poet,” Goodwin is the author of the Pushcart–nominated essay and poetry collection These Are The Breaks. He’s had several publications with Haymarket Books including Inauguration (cowritten with Nico Wilkinson), winner of the 2017 Literary Arts Award from the Pikes Peak Arts Council, Human Highlight: Ode to Dominique Wilkins, and the controversial play This Is Modern Art, both cowritten with Kevin Coval. His poetry was featured on HBO Def Poetry, Sesame Street, NPR, BBC radio, and the Discovery Channel. He’s received support from the NEA, the Ford, Mellon, and Edgerton Foundations, and the Playwrights’ Center’s McKnight Fellowship. An accomplished playwright, his widely produced stage plays include And In This Corner: Cassius Clay, How We Got On, and Hype Man: a break beat play. A frequent public speaker at conferences and educational spaces, Idris is one of the leading voices in his field, committed to more diverse and equitable spaces for all. Idris and his family live in Louisville, KY where he is the producing artistic director of Stage One, a professional theater company for young audiences.
NICO WILKINSON is a spoken word poet and organizer in Colorado Springs. In 2015 they were the Grand Slam Champion of Colorado Springs and represented the city at the National Poetry Slam in Oakland. In 2016, Nico released “good morning cruel world,” their first album.They host “Keep Colorado Springs Queer,” a monthly open mic, and they write for “Queer & There,” a weekly column in the Colorado Springs Independent. Their work has been published in Rust + Moth, Voicemail Poems, and Cactus Heart. Find them at www.nicowilkinson.com.
