A review by lingfish7
Above Ground by Clint Smith

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

📖This was my first Clint Smith book. Wow. What a talented writer! This poetry book tugged at every heart string. 💕 I’m in awe at Clint’s ability to observe every day life and write such poignant, meditative, contemplative poems. I aspire to be as mesmerizing of a poet as Clint someday.

The theme of this collection mostly centers around the life shifting event of Clint becoming a parent. He writes extensively about how much he adores his two children and how much more anxiety he has now that they are in the world. Some poems are about the simple things his kids do that make him smile, others are about school shootings and George Floyd. He seamlessly interweaves joy and sadness, the miracle of life and the fear of death. The poems are so diverse and yet so cohesive. 

I cannot wait to read more Clint Smith and for others to experience the beauty of his writing. ✨

Here is one of my favorite verses in an earlier poem in the book:

“little one

you are my daily reminder

that you do not go to the garden to watch

the flowers grow

you go to give thanks

for what has already bloomed.” 🌷