Unbound Spotlight: Kashawn Taylor: A Necessary Voice in a System That Silences
A showcase of bold, necessary, and transformative writing.
Unbound: A showcase of bold, necessary, and transformative writing.
Unbound is a recurring feature showcasing new writing and essential poetry—works that challenge, inspire, and redefine the art of language.
Wayfarer Books is honored to publish subhuman., a searing and deeply necessary collection of poetry written during Kashawn Taylor’s incarceration. Through the lens of a Black, queer man navigating life behind bars, Taylor exposes the stark realities of imprisonment—its physical, emotional, and spiritual toll—while also finding space for survival, imagination, and art.
At a time when mass incarceration continues to disproportionately impact Black and brown communities, and when LGBTQ+ individuals face heightened risks of violence and discrimination behind bars, subhuman. stands as both a testimony and an indictment. Taylor’s poems do not just document life inside; they illuminate it, challenging us to bear witness to the human cost of a punitive system that rarely allows for dignity or redemption. These poems remind us that incarceration is not just about confinement—it is about erasure. And yet, through language, Taylor refuses to be erased.
Though subhuman. is Taylor’s debut collection, his voice is already making waves in the literary world. His work has been featured in Poetry magazine, and his writing has been recognized for its unflinching honesty and lyrical brilliance. As Darcie Dennigan describes, this book is “an impeccable and radiant cri de coeur... intimate and gorgeous.” Yukari Kane calls it “a call to empathy, a celebration of resilience, and a testament to the indomitable human spirit.” And Alexis Ivy highlights Taylor’s remarkable voice, which “bares beauty and grit, giving us his world, which includes hope.”
In a moment when conversations about prison abolition, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights are more urgent than ever, subhuman. arrives as both art and argument—a visceral, poetic refusal to let the stories of the incarcerated remain in the shadows.
We can’t wait to share this vital collection with you. Pre-order a copy in our store (i.e: not amazon) and be sure to follow Wayfarer Books for updates on this extraordinary debut. Look for subhuman. in paperback and ebook March 25, 2025
Under the Courthouse
under the courthouse
they strip you of time
of seconds and minutes
then days of your life
they strip you of you
the one you’ve always known
and ignore the now faceless
shell you call home
under the courthouse
everything starts to hit
your face burns red-hot
your mind starts to split
pacing and pacing
between future and past
how long you’ve been here
how if you went back
you’d make better choices
drive straight home that night
so when your eyes open
they burn bright with sunlight
not in a stuffy cell
or a dorm so minute
but this is first run
not the fucking reboot
under the courthouse
what you know is all gone
is three years enough
to fully write my wrongs?
About the Author: Kashawn Taylor holds a BA in English and Psychology and an MA in English and Creative Writing. Before his incarceration, he established a strong academic foundation, which he has continued to build upon during his time in prison. His "prison writing" has been featured in several publications, including Prison Journalism Project, The Blotter Magazine, Minutes Before Six, Evening Street Review's DIY Prison Project, and Indiana Review. Taylor's work will also appear in the inaugural issue of Beyond Bars from Georgia State University and Poetry Magazine.
