Synopses & Reviews
Clint Smith’s debut poetry collection, Counting Descent, is a coming of age story that seeks to complicate our conception of lineage and tradition. Smith explores the cognitive dissonance that results from belonging to a community that unapologetically celebrates black humanity while living in a world that often renders blackness a caricature of fear. His poems move fluidly across personal and political histories, all the while reflecting on the social construction of our lived experiences. Smith brings the reader on a powerful journey forcing us to reflect on all that we learn growing up, and all that we seek to unlearn moving forward.
Review
"Counting Descent is more than brilliant. More than lyrical. More than bluesy. More than courageous. Counting Descent does not take my breath away; it, in so many ways, gives me more ways to breathe." Kiese Laymon, Author of Long Division
Review
"Counting Descent is a tightly-woven collection of poems whose pages act like an invitation to New Orleans, to the spades' table, to mom’s kitchen, to the kiss on a woman’s wrist....And you’re invited." Elizabeth Acevedo, Author of Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths
Review
"The broad sweep of Smith’s vision delivers a sudden awareness: In this poet's hands, we sense, like Rilke, there is no place that does not see you." Gregory Pardlo, Author of Digest
Review
"So many of these poems just blow me away. Incredibly beautiful and powerful." Michelle Alexander, Author of The New Jim Crow
About the Author
Clint Smith is a doctoral candidate at Harvard University and has received fellowships from Cave Canem, the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop, and the National Science Foundation. He is a 2014 National Poetry Slam champion and was a speaker at the 2015 TED Conference. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The Guardian, The American Literary Review, Boston Review, Harvard Educational Review and elsewhere. He was born and raised in New Orleans.