Homie

I don't know what to say about this that hasn't already been said. My instinct is to try to share some of Smith's words, but even excerpts don't feel like they get far enough into the meat of this collection. It is sadness, and memory, and rage, but with moments of levity. (I mean, there's a brilliant poem called dogs! - woof woof motherfuckaaaaa!)

And this:
i braved the stupidest ocean. a man.i waded in his stupid waters.i took his stupid salt & let itbrine my skin ...it was stupid. silly really. i knew nothingthat easy to get & good to feelisn't also trying to eat you.
from “sometimes i wish i felt the side effects”

Favorites:
- “my poems” because of its use of the written word as literal weapon
- the frustration, yet optimism of “what was said at the bus stop”
- “fall poem” - because of the way it considers those who you don't see in your neighborhood anymore, and it is so unexpected in its phrasing:
... no onewants to hear a poem about fall; much prefer the fallen body, something easy to mourn, body cut out of the lightbody lit up with bullets. see how easy it is to bring up bullets?is it possible to ban guns? even from this poem?

I liked Don't Call Us Dead better, but it's Danez Smith, so you know you're getting something fantastic no matter what.