Upon learning of their incurable ovarian cancer, poet Andrea Gibson experienced a profound shift, finding joy in their remaining moments. Prior to the diagnosis, Gibson lived in immense fear, suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Accepting their mortality allowed Gibson to embrace life fully. Their perspective on dying has been encapsulated in the sentiment, 'I fucking loved my life.' This acceptance deepened their appreciation for life’s brevity, recognizing how poetry captures powerful emotions through its economy of language.
When the poet Andrea Gibson learned two years ago that their ovarian cancer was incurable, the news marked a turning point; Gibson would often say it led to some of the most joyous moments of their life.
Accepting their illness and their mortality had transformed Gibson. 'You tap into the brevity of something,' they'd told Freethink, 'and all of a sudden everything becomes more special.'
The idea that facing death can shake you into living life was not, Gibson understood, a new one. But it is particularly fitting for a poet.
Gibson's last words were, 'I fucking loved my life.'
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