7 Must-Read Danez Smith Poems

‘A Note on the Body’ by Danez Smith beautifully explores resilience, urging self-preservation and celebrating life’s miraculous moments with vivid language.

This poem is a compelling representation of Danez Smith's poetic style and thematic concerns. Smith is known for using vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and dynamic language to explore themes of identity, resilience, and the human experience. This poem, with its free-verse structure, striking metaphors, and affirming messages about self-discovery and the miraculous nature of life, aligns with the characteristics often found in Smith's body of work. The exploration of personal agency, the nuanced portrayal of struggles, and the celebration of individual strength make it a resonant example of Smith's poetic voice and thematic focus.

your body still your body

your arms still wing

your mouth still a gun

you tragic, misfiring bird

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"> 92/100

dear white america

‘dear white america’ by Danez Smith is a fearless cry for racial equality, exploring concerns of injustice as well as the unwavering hope for a just society for everyone.

Danez Smith is a poet, writer, and performer from the United States who covers problems of racism, identity, and social justice. They are well-known for using art as a platform to raise important social issues. Their compositions are distinguished by strong emotions and direct honesty, as evidenced by their 'dear white america.' The work, which is an expression of Smith's disappointment and fury at the injustice, demonstrates Smith's ability to employ images to describe complicated emotions and facts that leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

i’ve left Earth in search of darker planets, a solar system revolving too near a black hole. i’ve left in search of a new God. i do not trust the God you have given us. my grandmother’s hallelujah is

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& even the black guy’s profile reads ‘sorry, no black guys’

‘& even the black guy’s profile reads ‘sorry, no black guys” by Danez Smith explores racial rejection, self-love, and empowerment.

This poem encapsulates Danez Smith's thematic richness and poetic style. Characteristic of his work, it navigates complex themes—racial discrimination, self-love, and societal expectations—using vivid metaphors and evocative imagery. It aligns with Smith's tendency to blend personal narratives with broader social commentary. The poem's emotional intensity, affirmative conclusion, and exploration of identity showcase the hallmarks of Smith's poetic voice, making it a compelling representation of the poet's body of work.

imagine a tulip, upon seeing a garden full of tulips, sheds its petals in disgust, prays some bee will bring its pollen to a rose bush. imagine shadows longing for a room with light in every direction. you look in the mirror & see a man you

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the bullet was a girl

‘the bullet was a girl’ critiques the devaluation of black lives, uses irony and metaphor to highlight society’s indifference to racism.

Danez Smith is known for writing poems that confront hard truths about race, identity, and justice. 'the bullet was a girl' may not be their most famous work, but it leaves a strong impression because of its sharp tone and emotional weight. It captures how society often reacts with distance or blame when Black lives are lost. While other poems like those in Don’t Call Us Dead are more widely studied, this one is still unforgettable.

the bullet is his whole life.
his mother named him & the bullet

was on its way. in another life
the bullet was a girl & his skin

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C.R.E.A.M.

’C.R.E.A.M.’ by Danez Smith is a complex, moving poem that depicts a speaker’s personal life and speaks on the American racial wealth gap.

after Morgan Parker, after Wu-Tang

in the morning I think about money

green horned lord of my waking

forest in which I stumbled toward no salvation

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The 17-Year-Old & the Gay Bar

Smith’s ‘The 17-Year-Old & the Gay Bar’ narrates a teen’s entry into a gay bar, discovering a haven of acceptance and identity.

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little prayer

A Note on the Body

dear white america

& even the black guy’s profile reads ‘sorry, no black guys’

the bullet was a girl

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