Please enjoy this overview of Danez Smith's work. Here you will find biographical information, links to poems and interviews, and writing prompts for you to explore.
BIO
Danez Smith is a Black, queer, non-binary poet who lives in Minneapolis and is originally from St. Paul, MN. Smith is the author of four collections of poetry: [Insert] Boy (2014), Black Movie (2015), Don’t Call Us Dead (2017), and Homie (2020). Smith’s work speaks on the state-sanctioned violence against Black people in America while celebrating the joy of Black queer friendship.
POEMS & PROMPTS
wit h bee f a nd veg gi es
b less ed wit h an e gg
rachel ff ro n sul li ed c hill in
w ith g arl ic or d irty n ot qu ite
re d bug gin the bea ns
or jus t r ice, wat er the e mi ra cl e
of sa lt t he gr a in s pr omi se
to pil lo w an d st retc h
i u sed to ha te r i ce
Prompt: Write a poem made up of broken words. How does breaking up your words influence the rhythm and impact of your poem?
you save me half a bag of skins, the hard parts, my fav, dusted
orange with hot
•
you say we can’t go to the bar cause you’re taking your braids
out
i come over, we watch madea while we pull you from you
•
you make us tacos with the shells i like & you don’t
•
i get too drunk at the party, you scoop my pizza from the sink
with a solo cup, all that red
Prompt: Write your own acknowledgements to the people who have formed you.
Mufasa & his absence played by every father ever
Simba played by the first boy you know who died too young
Sarabi played by the woman in church who has forgot the taste of praise
in favor of the earth that hold her boy captive
Nala played by the girl crying on the swing for her valentine who now date the dirt
Timon & Pumbaa played by Ray-Ray & Man-Man, the joy of not-dead friends
Zazu played by the ghost of James Baldwin
Rafiki played by a good uncle with a bad habit, his lust for rocks on his lips
Scar played by the world, the police, the law & its makers, the rope-colored hands
The endless army of hyenas played by a gust
choked tight with bullet shells, the bullets themselves
now dressed in a boy
Prompt: Recast and rewrite a favorite movie or story. How can you use the story’s existing tropes and metaphors to tell the story you want to tell?
your body still your body
your arms still wing
your mouth still a gun
you tragic, misfiring bird
you have all you need to be a hero
don’t save the world, save yourself
you worship too much & you worship too much
when prayer doesn’t work: dance, fly fire
this is your hardest scene
when you think the whole sad thing might end
Prompt: Write a poem for yourself to help yourself on the hardest days.
INTERVIEWS