Kashawn Taylor
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kashawntaylor.bsky.social
Kashawn Taylor
@kashawntaylor.bsky.social
Writer. Teacher. Student. My collection of poetry, subhuman., is out now from Wayfarer Books. Words in/soon in Poetry Mag, The Offing, The Poetry Lighthouse, and more. kashawntaylor.com
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My new collection of #poetry is out now! www.wayfarerbookstore.com/product/subh...
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
Please join us in congratulating our Pushcart nominees! Good luck everyone!
November 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
Five years of stories. Five Years of Impact. Five years of changing the storyteller.

Join us on Monday, December 8, as we honor the writers who are transforming how the public understands life behind bars. Come meet some of our alumni.
Voices From the Inside: A Celebration of PJP Writers & Five Years of Impact
Celebrate five years of powerful storytelling with Prison Journalism Project as we honor the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers.
celebrationofpjpwriters.eventbrite.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
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“Survival a poison but necessary on my tongue; my life now a memento mori.”
November 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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Really enjoyed tonight's zoom launch of This Joyful Interlude! ❤
Thank you everyone who came along, you were very supportive and I loved all your performances too - so many highlights!

#poetry #poetrycommunity
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
"In prison, we are expected to act a certain way as men — tough, brash, misogynistic. Especially in front of others, we must appear more macho than the next guy," writes @kashawntaylor.bsky.social.
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Thank you so much.l for sharing.
"It’s Hard to Make, and Keep, Friends as a Queer Man in Prison -
Some peers and staff believe my friendships have ulterior motives."
An incredible testimony by Kashawn Taylor @kashawntaylor.bsky.social
It’s Hard to Make, and Keep, Friends as a Queer Man in Prison
Friendship is essential to surviving prison. But for me, people often suspect ulterior motives.
prisonjournalismproject.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
"It’s Hard to Make, and Keep, Friends as a Queer Man in Prison -
Some peers and staff believe my friendships have ulterior motives."
An incredible testimony by Kashawn Taylor @kashawntaylor.bsky.social
It’s Hard to Make, and Keep, Friends as a Queer Man in Prison
Friendship is essential to surviving prison. But for me, people often suspect ulterior motives.
prisonjournalismproject.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Here’s the back cover of my poetry collection with some kinds words from some nice people. #poems #poetry #socialjustice #writers #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity
November 20, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I’m so excited to be working PJP in audience. Come say hello at our Dec. 8 event!
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
Voice From the Inside: A Celebration of PJP Writers & Five Years of Impact.

Event Details
Who: PJP alumni, readers and supporters, PJP team (including the co-founders)
When: 4-5 p.m. ET, Dec. 8, 2025
What: A celebration of PJP writers and five years of impact
Where: Virtually via Zoom

RSVP ⤵️
Voices From the Inside: A Celebration of PJP Writers & Five Years of Impact
Celebrate five years of powerful storytelling with Prison Journalism Project as we honor the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers.
celebrationofpjpwriters.eventbrite.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
One of my biggest accomplishments to date. “These Headphones Should Be Free” published by the Poetry Foundation. www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...

#poems #poetry #writingcommunity #poets #writers #author #poetrycommunity
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
My new collection of #poetry is out now! www.wayfarerbookstore.com/product/subh...
March 26, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Another story I wrote for PJP about toxic masculinity and the struggles of being out in prison.
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
"Prison is much like an audition where we must outperform all others. To vie for the starring role, that performance often looks outlandish."
Prison Takes Toxic Masculinity to New Levels
Especially behind bars, men perform to hyper-masculine and misogynistic tropes, as this queer essayist reports from his Connecticut prison. It’s exhausting.
prisonjournalismproject.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
Bluesky, meet @kashawntaylor.bsky.social. He wrote several stories for us while he was incarcerated and recently has been helping me out in Audience. Say hello and give a follow! He'll be at our Dec. 8 event. Come say hi!
November 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
One of my biggest accomplishments to date. “These Headphones Should Be Free” published by the Poetry Foundation. www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...

#poems #poetry #writingcommunity #poets #writers #author #poetrycommunity
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
PJP is an independent national nonprofit initiative that trains incarcerated writers in the tools of journalism and publishes their stories. We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by Dec. 31. Thanks to a special board match, every dollar you give will be tripled through Nov. 19.
Donate | Prison Journalism Project
Prison Journalism Project is supported by people like you. Support Prison Journalism Project today.
prisonjournalismproject.fundjournalism.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
In an essay for PJP, Kashawn Taylor explains why living in a halfway house has felt like "freedom with an asterisk."
What Is It Like to Live in a Halfway House?
In Connecticut, living at a halfway house is restrictive. I’m still under the watch of the state prison system.
prisonjournalismproject.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I wrote this with the intention of educating. Not many people know what this is like.
November 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
subhuman is a compelling & unflinching exploration of life behind bars, written during the author’s incarceration. Through the lens of a Black, queer man, this work sheds light on the physical, emotional & spiritual challenges faced by the incarcerated
www.wayfarerbookstore.com/product/subh... #LGBT
November 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
🎉 Join us on Dec. 8 for a special virtual gathering celebrating 5 years of storytelling by incarcerated & formerly incarcerated writers.

Hear from PJP alumni about life behind bars, why their stories matter, and how they’re changing the conversation.

RSVP here:: www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-fro...
November 19, 2025 at 2:21 AM
A longer read, but thank you to @theshorepoetry.bsky.social for nominating this poem for #BestoftheNet! Feels good when someone believes in you. #poems #poetry #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity

“A Proper Shower”
November 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Kashawn Taylor
This poem, 15 Minute Love, was nominated by Emergent Literary for the Pushcart Prize. 🥺🥺 my first nomination #poetry #writingcommunity #poems
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I’ve never written with prizes in mind, and didn’t even know about things like Pushcart and Best of the Net until fairly recently, after my book had been published.
This poem, 15 Minute Love, was nominated by Emergent Literary for the Pushcart Prize. 🥺🥺 my first nomination #poetry #writingcommunity #poems
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 AM
This poem, 15 Minute Love, was nominated by Emergent Literary for the Pushcart Prize. 🥺🥺 my first nomination #poetry #writingcommunity #poems
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM