Danez Smith

Danez Smith is a celebrated poet, writer, and activist known for addressing race, sexuality, and social justice. In a dynamic conversation, they explore the balance of grief and joy, emphasizing love within black queer experiences. Personal tales highlight the impact of family and art on emotional wellness. Smith reflects on poetry's power to confront societal challenges and share intimate moments. The discussion shifts to navigating hope amid pessimism and the importance of resilience in creating meaningful change.

In a poem brimming with love and nostalgia for winter, a poet leaves California to return to their Minnesotan homeplace, a place where winter makes sense, where sadness makes sense, where the isolation that’s at the heart of humanity can be met with a landscape that can contain it. Here, solitude is looked at with wisdom and necessity. A season can deepen the human experience. Joy finds new expressions.Danez Smith is a Black, queer, HIV-positive writer and performer from St. Paul, Minnesota. They are the author of Homie and Don’t Call Us Dead, which was a finalist for the National Book Award.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Margaret Atwood, a literary titan, joins celebrated poets Kaveh Akbar and Danez Smith, along with esteemed writer Tishani Doshi. They delve into the essence of poetry, exploring how it reflects human experience. The conversation highlights themes of love, lament, and joy, offering a deeper understanding of the emotional nuances within poetry. Each poet shares their unique perspective, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the richness of lyrical expression and discover how poetry mirrors our complex lives.