Before We Gone by Malachi Byrd

Malachi Byrd’s Before We Gone is a ruthlessly loving depiction of childhood and early maturity in Washington, D.C. It is easy to enjoy the humor, rhythms, and creativity in these poems navigating loss and self-understanding. Before We Gone was released October, 11, 2025. “Before We Gone positions anger beside humor and pedagogy between prayer, carrying a promise that poetry is both love and liberation.” — Tony Keith, author of How the Boogeyman Became a Poet    “A stunning collection” — Nico Penaranda, poet and educator   “Malachi Byrd is a poet of tremendous gifts” — Christopher Jon Heuer, author of Bug and All Your Parts Intact: Poems    “You feel it after you read it, you know, like those temple bells that keep reverberating after their sound.” — Grace Cavalieri, Maryland’s Tenth Poet Laureate Malachi Byrd is the 2025 winner of the DC Poet Project, a competition that identifies and supports exceptional poets. The artist known as MalPractice is a poet, teacher, battle rapper, and son