Cornelius Eady (he/him) is the author of Proof, a poem written for and read at the 2026 Inauguration of NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani. His poetry collections include: Victims of the Latest Dance Craze, winner of the 1985 Lamont Prize; The Gathering of My Name, nominated for a 1992 Pulitzer Prize; Hardheaded Weather, and is co-founder of the Cave Canem Foundation.