Derrick Austin
@paradiselaust.bsky.social
Author: THIS ELEGANCE (Spring 2026), TENDERNESS, and TROUBLE THE WATER (BOA Editions) | Wannabe Art Historian | He/Him
📍Chicago
https://linktr.ee/DerrickAustin
📍Chicago
https://linktr.ee/DerrickAustin
Pinned
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
a troupe of bodybuilder drag queens called the dumb belles
November 11, 2025 at 8:55 PM
a troupe of bodybuilder drag queens called the dumb belles
Galleys for This Elegance will be available in the next few weeks. Let me know if you're interested in reviewing or teaching the book and I'll get one sent your way 💜
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
November 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Galleys for This Elegance will be available in the next few weeks. Let me know if you're interested in reviewing or teaching the book and I'll get one sent your way 💜
Reposted by Derrick Austin
Today’s poem is selected by Derrick Austin (@Paradiselaust) as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.
“Raising a Humid Flag” appeared in At Redbones by Thylias Moss, published by Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1990. Shared here with deep gratitude.
“Raising a Humid Flag” appeared in At Redbones by Thylias Moss, published by Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1990. Shared here with deep gratitude.
August 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Today’s poem is selected by Derrick Austin (@Paradiselaust) as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.
“Raising a Humid Flag” appeared in At Redbones by Thylias Moss, published by Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1990. Shared here with deep gratitude.
“Raising a Humid Flag” appeared in At Redbones by Thylias Moss, published by Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1990. Shared here with deep gratitude.
Glad to be back in APR: this time with an essay about Robert Hayden's ekphrastic poems.
Our November/December issue is out now! Check out fresh new work from Devon Walker-Figueroa, Sharon Olds, Derrick Austin, Traci Brimhall, and many more at aprweb.org, and grab the in-print version via 🔗 in bio. And be sure to pre-order Devon's excellent new book Lazarus Species from @milkweed_books
November 4, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Glad to be back in APR: this time with an essay about Robert Hayden's ekphrastic poems.
Reposted by Derrick Austin
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Gothika
The Naked Kiss
Night of the Living Dead
Enemy
The Naked Kiss
Night of the Living Dead
Enemy
November 4, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Gothika
The Naked Kiss
Night of the Living Dead
Enemy
The Naked Kiss
Night of the Living Dead
Enemy
In case you missed this week's good news ✨
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
October 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
In case you missed this week's good news ✨
Reposted by Derrick Austin
I fell down the stairs + broke my neck in Croatia!
I need spinal surgery asap!
My sister organized a GoFundMe!
#ProtectTheDolls from not being able to pay for spinal surgery!
If you don't have $ to spare, sharing widely would be just as appreciated <3
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ev...
I need spinal surgery asap!
My sister organized a GoFundMe!
#ProtectTheDolls from not being able to pay for spinal surgery!
If you don't have $ to spare, sharing widely would be just as appreciated <3
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ev...
Donate to Support Evie’s Urgent Spinal Surgery & Recovery, organized by Megan Atkinson
Evie broke her neck in Croatia! Help her navigate her spinal fracture c… Megan Atkinson needs your support for Support Evie’s Urgent Spinal Surgery & Recovery
www.gofundme.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I fell down the stairs + broke my neck in Croatia!
I need spinal surgery asap!
My sister organized a GoFundMe!
#ProtectTheDolls from not being able to pay for spinal surgery!
If you don't have $ to spare, sharing widely would be just as appreciated <3
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ev...
I need spinal surgery asap!
My sister organized a GoFundMe!
#ProtectTheDolls from not being able to pay for spinal surgery!
If you don't have $ to spare, sharing widely would be just as appreciated <3
www.gofundme.com/f/support-ev...
Reposted by Derrick Austin
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
October 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
With millions at risk of losing SNAP in the coming days, a reminder: hunger doesn't happen in isolation. When food assistance disappears, families use rent money to eat. Then come evictions and homelessness.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Housing, food, healthcare—it's all connected. Cut one thread and the whole thing unravels.
Reposted by Derrick Austin
"Egan understands received forms’ emotional and psychological layers: sonnet sequences as community gathering or anagrams as sensuous, private conversation."—Derrick Austin
Happy #pubday to Moira Egan's transformative new collection, "The Furies." https://bit.ly/thefuriespoem
Happy #pubday to Moira Egan's transformative new collection, "The Furies." https://bit.ly/thefuriespoem
October 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"Egan understands received forms’ emotional and psychological layers: sonnet sequences as community gathering or anagrams as sensuous, private conversation."—Derrick Austin
Happy #pubday to Moira Egan's transformative new collection, "The Furies." https://bit.ly/thefuriespoem
Happy #pubday to Moira Egan's transformative new collection, "The Furies." https://bit.ly/thefuriespoem
Reposted by Derrick Austin
Two #Florida coral species declared functionally extinct. www.nbcnews.com/science/clim... via @nbcnews.com
'Functionally extinct': After 10,000 years on the Florida coast, two key corals are dead
In a grim study, a team of nearly 50 researchers concludes that extreme ocean heat killed off two crucial coral species that had been building reefs in Florida since the Ice Age.
www.nbcnews.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Two #Florida coral species declared functionally extinct. www.nbcnews.com/science/clim... via @nbcnews.com
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
October 23, 2025 at 10:14 PM
My third book, This Elegance, is out from @boa-editions.bsky.social in May 2026.
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Cover design by Sandy Knight with art by Diedrick Brackens.
Available to preorder now 🙏🏿
Sharing one more time since I’ll have a new pinned post later today 👀
I'm a queer poet with two books (Trouble the Water and Tenderness) and a chapbook (Black Sand). I write about desire, visual art, spirituality, and pop culture. I have new work just out or forthcoming in The New Republic, Fiddlehead, Poetry Northwest, and Poetry Magazine.
linktr.ee/DerrickAustin
linktr.ee/DerrickAustin
DerrickAustin | Twitter, Instagram | Linktree
View DerrickAustin’s Linktree. Listen to their music on Spotify here.
linktr.ee
October 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Sharing one more time since I’ll have a new pinned post later today 👀
Reposted by Derrick Austin
Amsterdam yesterday, shutting it down for Palestine!
NEW: Extraordinary scenes in Amsterdam this afternoon (Sunday, Oct 5).
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸
(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
October 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Amsterdam yesterday, shutting it down for Palestine!
Justice for Gothika. This movie is INCREDIBLE
October 6, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Justice for Gothika. This movie is INCREDIBLE
Reposted by Derrick Austin
I always pay attention to what stories People Magazine and other consumer media outlets cover. That's how you can tell that something has broken through the usual political and news bubbles. This horrific Chicago story has broken through. people.com/ice-agents-o...
ICE Agents Rappel from Helicopter in Overnight Chicago Raid, Dragging Kids from Beds to U-Hauls
Overnight on Tuesday, Sept. 30, federal agents from different agencies raided an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, pulling men, women and children — some of them allegedly naked — from ...
people.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I always pay attention to what stories People Magazine and other consumer media outlets cover. That's how you can tell that something has broken through the usual political and news bubbles. This horrific Chicago story has broken through. people.com/ice-agents-o...
Certified Copy
Close-Up
When Marnie Was There
Close-Up
When Marnie Was There
October 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Certified Copy
Close-Up
When Marnie Was There
Close-Up
When Marnie Was There
Rewatched The Lighthouse for the first time and my god that movie is as incredible as it is beautiful! Even better than I remember.
a man says i want a steak in a black and white scene
ALT: a man says i want a steak in a black and white scene
media.tenor.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Rewatched The Lighthouse for the first time and my god that movie is as incredible as it is beautiful! Even better than I remember.
Reposted by Derrick Austin
good evening, I wrote about one of my favourite movies of all-time:
thrilled (i think i've said thrilled too many times about these essays) to share this essay by @yrcnr.bsky.social on phantom thread for our the ranks of the freaks series!!!!! thisisanewsletter.substack.com/p/oh-i-like-...
Oh, I Like You Like This: Colin Mylrea on Phantom Thread
The eighth entry in The Ranks of the Freaks, a This is a Newsletter series.
thisisanewsletter.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
good evening, I wrote about one of my favourite movies of all-time:
Reposted by Derrick Austin
I could watch a film based off this poem
September 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I could watch a film based off this poem
Reposted by Derrick Austin
“My neighbor listens patiently, amused by my young life.
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
September 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM
“My neighbor listens patiently, amused by my young life.
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
A poem that’ll be in my forthcoming book, This Elegance, in the summer issue of @voicemailpoems.bsky.social ☕️
“My neighbor listens patiently, amused by my young life.
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
We’re the only Black gay men in our building,
so he has me over for Sunday tea. I fill our cups.
For the heart, he says, adding whiskey to his.”
- Derrick Austin (@paradiselaust.bsky.social)
voicemailpoems.org/2025/08/14/s...
September 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A poem that’ll be in my forthcoming book, This Elegance, in the summer issue of @voicemailpoems.bsky.social ☕️
Reposted by Derrick Austin
Islands by Muriel Rukeyser
November 25, 2024 at 11:30 PM
Islands by Muriel Rukeyser