Above Ground: Poems by Clint Smith

I have been following Clint Smith’s work for almost ten years. He’s an Arsenal fan, a poet, a father, and an important voice in how the US reckons with its own history of racism and the enslavement of people. His Crash Course on Black American History is brilliant—all 51 episodes.

This book of poetry is astounding. Smith’s voice is singular. His perspective as a father shines through to interpret his reality. Since Smith is a native of New Orleans, some poems deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There’s gun violence and immigration and injustice. There’s also Ode to the Baby Swing, Ode to the Bear Hug, and a favorite of mine: Ode to the First Fifteen Minutes After the Kids Are Finally Asleep.

If you, like me, don’t have enough poetry in your life, pick up this book of poems. It’s accessible, brilliant, deep, hilarious, tragic, sobering.

From “Look at that Pond”:

My life is made possible by trillions of tiny mysteries. I exist because of so many things I’ll never see.

℗