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maidinnah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Above Ground is a touching, sentimental collection of free verse poems about parenthood and all the complicated emotions it entails -- from childlike joy in the mundane to crushing despair in the state of world. Smith explores the whole spectrum of these emotions using tender affirmations for his loved ones, hyper-specific referential imagery, and even clever freeform. This collection explores so much beyond parenthood, such as heritage, the passage of time, race, socio-political turmoil, memory, and illness, without ever losing sight of its north star. It's loving, contemporary, and accessible. Adored it.
bookworm91's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
blaze_o_glory's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
If there is one thing I know about Clint Smith after reading Above Ground, it’s that he loves his family. Ode to the Electric Baby Swing made my sides hurt from laughter. Nomenclature absolutely gutted me. Ars Poetica reignited my sense of wonder.
lyriclorelei's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Love leaks out from all of these.
coveredbychristine's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Clint Smith for making me cry one minute and then nasal snort laughing the next! This was a beautiful collection of poems on topics ranging from the playful joys of parenthood (my favorite was Ode to the double stroller and Ode to the first 15 min after the kids are finally asleep)
to the unflinching stark reality of dark issues that have stained our nation like slavery, the nations reaction to hurricane Katrina, and police brutality. So much to reflect on after each page, what a gift!
to the unflinching stark reality of dark issues that have stained our nation like slavery, the nations reaction to hurricane Katrina, and police brutality. So much to reflect on after each page, what a gift!
bosting52's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25