a collection of poems written with Taylor Swift’s album Midnights (2021)
This set of poems coalesced during the first quarter of my PhD program. Growing up I was never a fan of Taylor, but as I emerged in college from the heteronormative and white-patriarchal space I grew up in, I came to appreciate her music with new eyes. There are plenty of reasons to be critical of Swift, and I will be. But in these works I found myself beginning of reclamation of girlhood.
Inspired by Maroon
Final Notes
I’m very grateful to the University of Washington which unknowingly funded this project through a first year fellowship. I am also appreciative of Taylor for providing this wonderful album to think about, and in many ways move away from my own personal insomnia.
I am eternally grateful to my first readers. Bridget, you read everything I write first, and your initial feedback is what gets me to sharing things further. Ksenia, there are not many people who would squat down at the Anthem theater before a Stromae concert to read poetry on their tiny phone screen, but here you are anyways.
To Anna, Anna, and Joanna, for dragging me into the life of being a Swiftie.
And to my elementary best friend, Emily I’m sorry I hated Fearless. I wouldn’t let you play the CD more than once a play-date, and I have since revised my position. Play-on.