Tess Taylor (born October 24, 1977) is an American poet, academic, and a contributor to CNN and NPR.

Taylor was born and raised in El Cerrito, California, and attended Berkeley High School.

[4] Former Poet laureate of the United States Natasha Trethewey remarked that "The Forage House is a brave and compelling collection that bears witness to the journey of historical discovery.

Sifting through archives, artifact, and souvenir, Taylor presents a dialectic of what's recorded and what's not, unearthing the traces that give way to her own history—and a vital link to our shared American past.

[7] Rift Zone, published by Red Hen Press, is a book of poetry that explores fault lines, history, and current crises in Taylor's hometown of El Cerrito, California and across the state.