Books The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems  by Patricia Smith (Author)

The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems by Patricia Smith is a profound and masterful collection spanning three decades of her celebrated career. This volume gathers essential poems, including new and previously uncollected works, showcasing Smith's remarkable gift for insight and lyrical craft. The poems traverse a wide emotional and thematic landscape—from the pain and trauma of personal and historical experience to the joyous possibilities of life and healing.

Smith’s poetry is noted for being both meditative and volcanic, offering keen witness and embodied experience that explores complex themes such as grief, race, memory, resilience, and connection. The collection reaffirms Smith’s place as one of the indispensable voices in contemporary poetry, celebrated for both her emotional depth and intellectual rigor. Her work is not just a personal expression but a communal call, bridging history, social justice, and intimate reflections with powerful language and imagery.