a poem is a kind of conspiracy
you can spend your whole life trying to solve a math problem that isn't actually a math problem
2025 was maybe one of the hardest years of my life. 2025 was also the year I became a poet.
I'm trying to learn how to hold these two truths together in tension. they're not exactly distinct from each other; the poetry is how I got through the worst of it, and also, in some ways the poetry made it worse. (in that, I'm wondering if taking the aerator off the faucet of my emotions for the sake of making art without doing the requisite shadow work created some downstream effects.)
I'm trying to find ways to heal that don't require me to give up poetry. it's hard, and it's nowhere near done. I almost quit. acknowledging that makes me feel guilty, in a way. like, what a slap in the face for the thing that also helped save my life last year.
I suspect that 2026 isn't going to be any easier. all I know right now is I want to try to live, and make more art, and kiss more girls. hopefully that'll be enough.
updates
I'm reading some Andrea Gibson at a community fundraiser!
My favorite local lesbian bar is hosting a screening of Come See Me In The Good Light (2025), the documentary following the late poet Andrea Gibson and their wife Megan Falley in what turned out to be the last year of their life. Before the movie, they're inviting some local poets to read some of Andrea's work– including me! All of this to raise money for Gilda's Club Chicago.
I relaunched my Patreon!
It's been a bit of a zombie campaign for the past few years, but I want to actually do things with it again (and hopefully grow it, now that I'm regularly making art again).
If you like my poetry and you've got some room in your mutual aid budget I would love it if you could support me there!
Upcoming Shows!
I've got some pretty exciting developments in the works for readings and performances in the first half of 2026, especially in winter and spring. Be sure to watch this space or check here often for updates and announcements!
what's Bridget reading?
Starting the year off right.
what's Bridget listening to?
Manifesting my Leonard Cohen Winter this month.
other people's poems
"good light" by Andrea
Just continuing to ether me from beyond the grave. Cool. Great. Thanks dude.
Love you,
Bridget