Counting Descent

I must say that this collection of poetry is easily on my list of all-time favorites. It will break your heart at times, but it will also nourish you and remind you that there is so much more to life than the pain and grief we are dealt. It will remind you of all the magical moments that are in-between, and the quiet joy that can be had in our connection with family and loved ones. Smith’s use of language is all at once comforting and upending. Some poems lull you back to the sweetness of childhood, while others remind you exactly of the kind of world we live in. Yet, there is always hope waiting on the next line or page; just as there is always hope waiting for us in life.

These powerful poems deserve words better than mine to honor them, so I'll allow a few lines from "Today I Bought a Book for You" to speak:"It should come as no surprise. / I have always used words / to try and convince the world / that I am worth something."Smith constructs lines, poems, as argument, as rhetoric that reminds readers of past and present moments in the lives of marginalized voices.I'll return often to Smith's lines to better understand the lives of African Americans, to share his tributes to James Baldwin and Malcolm X, to tell students they are not alone, to remember the suffering of New Orleans, and to rediscover the humanity and worth of all, including those society casts aside.Highly recommended.*

I must preface my review with a bit on my background: I live in the midwest, Iowa to be precise. I teach high school between two major highways and copious fields of corn and soybeans. To be clear: There's a lot of white people here and not much diversity.However, last year I came across Clint Smith while researching for class materials. In class, we watched his TED talk video from 2014 titled "The Danger of Silence" to investigate language devices in English I and speaking strategies in Advanced Speech. We also watched "When They Tell You The Brontosaurus Never Existed" because we loved it. Meanwhile, I Googled and watched other videos. It was clear that not only was Smith unapologetic at unearthing human and racial truths but he was (and still is) also a master of craft--adding in alliteration and assonance like it was his native tongue. Beautiful.His book of poetry could not have been published at a more appropriate--albeit a terribly racist--time. Just in the past several weeks, sixteen more innocent black victims have lost their lives due to (on optimistic days) miscommunication or (on bad days) blatant bigotry. It's something I don't know how to talk about to my students because they don't see it. They live in a nearly all-white community; they see the television and media reports and think "That's not here. We don't even have any black people around here." That is to say, they're in denial. This book of poetry could change that.In "For the Boys Who Never Learned How to Swim," Smith writes:His face against the front of the police / car made him look like a fish out of water. / But where is the water? / When has there every been water? / When have we ever been allowed to swim? / When has there ever been somewhere / we can breathe? / I don't remember the last time police / sirens didn't feel like gasping for air. / I don't remember what it means not / to be considered something meant / to flounder, to flap against / the surface while others watch you / until the flailing stops.Holy cow. Amazing. An analogy that makes me feel terrible for never taking the time to explain: Do you know what it feels like? You don't have to live around anyone of another race to take an empathetic moment and realize what it feels like. This entire book of poetry could be used as a companion piece for myriad other texts, in high school or in the education of life.I highly recommend this book to any reader, even those smack dab in the middle of the corn with no other racial diversity to account for... even those screaming for lives to be meaningful while surrounded by others who claim those lives don't really exist.

I rarely read poetry, but this book is so well written, it holds a place on my coffee table so I can discuss it with others. If every person in America would read this book, I believe it would bring peace and understanding in a world of racial tension. I can hardly wait for Clint Smith's next book. Many of his poems are great to read aloud, and humorous yet truthful. Don't miss Mr Smith's wonderful insight.

I am not a poetry person; but my son’s School board is considering adding diverse book for English classes. I was asked to review. WOW just WOW! I have never been so mesmerized by a poem or book for that matter. This will resonate with today’s generation as well as my own. I have insisted that this be added to English classes, libraries as well as Summer reading assignments.

I purchased this book for my 14 year old grandson and hope he can relate to what I believe the author of this book wants to convey to the reader. I read it through first and when I finished, I remember feeling that a lot of the poems went right over my head, but mainly, I felt the truth that could only be expressed from a Black perspective, and maybe, only understood from a Black perspective. I would recommend this book

I just reviewed his other 2 books, this is his first. He gets inside your head!

If you want to understand the perspective of black young men, these poems are intense and illuminating. For a white woman who grew up in the military, his words are painful to read. I began first grade in 1949 on the Ft. Campbell Army post because the civilian school district would not integrate and President Truman had ordered full integration for the services and their families. I have not fully understood what blacks face in our society because my own culture forbid bigotry and while rank mattered, ethnicity did not. These poems are painful to read but teach us about what it means to be a young black man in America.

Absolutely incredible. Written well, with deeply personal stories that relay a larger message. Cannot recommend highly enough. Please read this

Superb. If you haven't watched his TED Talk - the danger of silence then now is the time. All in all, less than 60mins that will change your view on the world.

Very introspective, powerful and impactful poet.

A beautiful collection. Thoughtful, and thought provoking. Highly recommended.