Teacher

Published by Aquarius Press/Willow Books. Detroit, MI. 2026

Advance Praise for Teacher:

“Through his precise and evocative poems, Gideon teaches you everything you need to know about the modern American classroom. His collection demonstrates how students bring not only curiosity and a sense of wonder through the door but also many of society’s dilemmas. All teachers will recognize this emotional perspective of the public school experience.” Edward Walgate — Chatham County, NC teacher and local North Carolina Association of Educators president

“Teacher contains a vibrant deskful of poems that illuminate the lightning of teaching and thunder of learning. Many of these poems began as teachable moments experienced in classrooms, on field trips, and at summer camps, and Young generously regifts them to us, his grateful readers. He treats each and every poem in this collection with the same care, respect, and affection he gives his students. The most valuable lesson we learn from Mr. Gideon? At the heart of a great teacher, as at the heart of a great poet, there resides a thirst for justice and a fervor for joy.”
Brad Bennett — haiku poet, scholar, former elementary school teacher

“Gideon Young has written a deeply moving book of poems about being a teacher of small children, nurturing their imaginations toward their inner wonder. Young reveals himself as a committed teacher, the kind we all should have had, and he’s a terrific poet. In one poem, he gives us a whole world with what he has in his pockets on a given day: “i got my teacher pockets full of golden tickets,/a crumpled paper airplane,/unfolded; blue and green/giraffes, smiling.” In one persona poem a student shares a nightmare about his fellow students with guns, mirroring the terror we feel about school shootings. Young deftly moves between forms, variable foot, haibun and haiku, and lyric. Although his subjects are serious, he is able to insert humor and an observer’s insight. You’ll love this generous book.” Doug Anderson—poet, author, educator

“A rousing high-five for Gideon Young’s poetry chapbook, Teacher, where we are returned to youth—the bright-eyed worlds of classrooms, playgrounds, and field trips—through keen observation of a teacher who dreams alongside his students. In stark, meticulous imagery Young captures the eagerness of beginning minds while acknowledging the social realities of broken systems and a country often indifferent to students’ futures. Teacher is a riveting ‘ode to our classroom(s)’ where hope rests in camp songs, chalky handprints, the science of things. In these poems, readers are offered the chance to ‘evaporate into happiness.'”
Crystal Simone Smith—poet and educator, author of Runagate: Songs of the Freedom Bound (Duke University Press, 2025)

Griots: Keepers of the Story. A Collection of Haibun

Published by Unicorn Press. Greensboro, NC. 2026

Advance Praise for Griots:

“Griots presents evocative haibun by five accomplished poets and situates this centuries-old Japanese form within the African American storytelling tradition. The powerful imagery, insights, memories, and revelations demonstrate crucial ways the past informs the present and affirm the vital importance of keeping stories alive for future generations.”
—CE ROSENOW, author of Japanese Forms in American Poetry

“Griots: Keepers of the Story is an excellent collection of haibun by the five fine poets and members of the well-known Carolina African American Writers’ Collective. As a quintet, they distinguish themselves as a collective voice that unifies a narrative perspective through the integration of the Japanese poetic form and the African American experiences. Their voice is singular and emotional with a rich accumulation of images to vivify the language and expression. Each poem offers a moment to find delightful surprises for the heart and the eye.”
—JOHN ZHENG, author of African American Haiku

https://www.unicorn-press.org/books/Moore-Smith-Griots.html

my hands full of light

Published by Backbone Press. Durham, NC. 2021. (Out of Print)

“The poems in Gideon Young’s debut collection my hands full of light showcase grace and honesty that compel the reader to keep reading.  Young is one of the best haiku poets among his generation, depicting family and the natural world into poems that captivate.”

— Lenard D. Moore
Honorary Curator of the American Haiku Archives
Former President of the Haiku Society of America (2008 and 2009)
Editor, One Window’s Light and All The Songs We Sing

“These pages catch blessings.”

— Marilyn Nelson
Author of A Wreath for Emmett Till
Former Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets

One Window’s Light: A Collection of Haiku

Published by Unicorn Press. Greensboro, NC. 2017.

***Winner of the 2017 Haiku Society of America Merit Award for Best Anthology

“A literal and metaphorical groundbreaker, this unique and indispensable collection contains a brilliant array of haiku…” – Lauri Ramey

“Most impressive… is its focus on environment and current events, offering a clear point of view that haiku is not just about nature; it is also about human nature and society. Such an important haiku collection in American haiku history, One Window’s Light…” – John Zheng