And so, my questions for tracy really had to do with how she managed to take on those worlds in such a simple and intimate way and how, in the end, such a balancing act is a vocation the poet is when the wind is right. Smiths life on mars by andrea rogers march 10, 2015. The bodys question 2003, which won the cave canem prize for the best first book by an africanamerican poet. Its not easy to be so convincing in both the grand gesture and the reverent contemplation of a. Smith, and her 2011 book life on mars makes me cry. Winner of the 2012 pulitzer prize poet laureate of the united states a new york times notable.
The cover of the book has a beautiful photo of mars on it, and each poem within the book seems to ask questions about our experiences on earth, and why they matter, and what they all mean. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. The poems in her collection life on mars are intrinsically current, referencing a. Smith, published by graywolf press on 30 percent postconsumer wastepaper, is a collection sliced up into four parts, and it won this years pulitzer prize in poetry. Shamefully, i have only just now discovered tracy k. Smith won a pulitzer prize for the poetry collection life on mars. The books is something of an elegy as a whole with many poems pertaining to death and the authors struggle with the loss of her father. Aug 28, 2011 in life on mars, smith shows herself to be a poet of extraordinary range and ambition. Its themes include family births and deaths, outer space as a metaphor for inner space, and broader political questions regarding violence and power. Smiths pulitzer prizewinning collection life on mars contains many references to the man she salutes as the pope of pop, david bowie. But her highest distinction came last year, when smith, 46, was named us poet laureate.
With allusions to david bowie and interplanetary travel, life on mars imagines a soundtrack for the universe to accompany the discoveries, failures, and oddities of human existence. Smith is one of the finest poets writing right now. She studied at harvard, where she joined the dark room collective, a reading series for writers of color. For smith, life is laced with violence and a kind of dark humor, as in the. Duende 2007, winner of the james laughlin award and the essense literary award. In life on mars, smith shows herself to be a poet of extraordinary range and ambition. Of the two, life on mars is a little less accessible. Smiths poem is from her book life on mars 2011, graywolf press, which won the pulitzer prize for poetry earlier this year.
Smith s poem is from her book life on mars, which won the pulitzer prize for. Smith born april 16, 1972 is an american poet and educator. Jul 09, 2012 for more arts coverage, visit art beat. But since poetry doesnt sell well due to the tyrannical collectiverule of prose, pop music, film, and television, i think it is important to promote such works. Life on mars concludes with another group of poems on miscellaneous subjects, but here the concerns are more lighthearted, personal and domestic. Upon hearing that tracy k smith had been named the united states poet laureate for the next year, i decided to read her 2012 pulitzer winning collection life on mars. Duende, winner of the james laughlin award and the essence literary award, and the bodys question, winner of the cave canem poetry prize. Smith is the author of three collections of poetry. Gabrielle calvocoressi, the miami herald in life on mars, a vibrant collection of verse, smith pays homage to david bowie the pope of pop, stanley kubric, the hubble telescope, jfk airport and more. Smiths previous collection of poems, life on mars, was awarded the pulitzer prize in 2012. In poetry that is a mix of free verse, prose, letters, and songs, smith delivers powerful words in a four part opus.
Tracy smiths life on mars is a strong, surprising, and often beautiful book. Dont call us dead opens with a heartrending sequence that imagines an afterlife for black men shot by police, a place where suspicion, violence, and grief are forgotten and replaced with the safety, love, and longevity they deserved here on earth. Smith, whose 2011 collection life on mars won the pulitzer prize for poetry in april, talks about the motivation behind her space exploration themed book with. Its not easy to be so convincing in both the grand gesture and the reverent contemplation of a humble plate of eggs, and the early successes of this collection far outweigh its later missteps. Tracy k smiths work manages to toe the line perfectly between a commonplace modernism and a fanciful classicism. She is a wellknown contemporary american poet and winner of the pulitzer prize for poetry. Smiths previous collections are the bodys question, which won the cave canem poetry prize. Smiths pulitzer prizewinning life on mars, i began to wonder why it affected me as it did, and why it obviously affected the pulitzer prize judges, who praised smiths ability to take readers into the universe and move. Smith envisions a scifi future sucked clean of any real dangers, contemplates the dark matter that keeps people both close. Its a gripping, intergalactic ride that marvels at the miracles and. Smith s poem is from her book life on mars 2011, graywolf press, which won the pulitzer prize for poetry earlier this year. But since poetry doesnt sell well due to the tyrannical collectiverule of prose, pop music, film, and television, i think it. Smith s second book of poetry, her first book being wade in the water.
Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Life on mars is a collection of poems from tracy k. Smiths second book of poetry, her first book being wade in the water. She is the author of two other collections of poetry. She has published four collections of poetry, winning the pulitzer prize for her 2011 volume life on mars. May 27, 2012 tracy k smith s work manages to toe the line perfectly between a commonplace modernism and a fanciful classicism. Life on mars begins with a series of poems in section one that focus on visions of the future and meditations on outer space and the universe. May 10, 2011 in life on mars, smith shows herself to be a poet of extraordinary range and ambition. On the whole, i had to struggle to glean meaning from her poems.
The cover of the book has a beautiful photo of mars on it, and each poem within the book seems to ask questions about our experiences on. Apr 26, 2011 upon hearing that tracy k smith had been named the united states poet laureate for the next year, i decided to read her 2012 pulitzer winning collection life on mars. She received the academy of american poets fellowship in 2014 and the james laughlin award in 2006 for her second book, duende. Life on mars is a book about a world real and a world imagined and, at times, a kind of world ecstatically hoped for. Life on mars 2011, winner of the pulitzer prize for poetry. Nov 10, 20 life on mars is a collection of poems from tracy k. She is the poemaday guest editor for april 2019 and 2018.
Smiths previous collection of poems, life on mars, was. She is also the recipient of the rona jaffe foundation writers award and a whiting writers award, and was a finalist for the naacp image award for outstanding literary work. Smiths poem is from her book life on mars, which won the pulitzer prize for. She served as the 22nd poet laureate of the united states from 2017 to 2019. The collection, which won the pulitzer prize for poetry in 2012, is a wild, kaleidoscopic elegy for. This is the second book of poetry by tracy smith that ive read. Smith was writing the poems that would eventually become her pulitzer prizewinning collection life on mars, the answers, or at least some kind of fulfillment, could be found in the. Smiths life on mars, winner of the 2012 pulitzer prize for poetry. I had the pleasure of seeing smith read with the dark room collective in d. Twitter facebook email a collection of bold, skillful poems, taking readers into the universe and moving them to an authentic mix of joy and pain. Awardwinning poet danez smith is a groundbreaking force, celebrated for deft lyrics, urgent subjects, and performative power. The collection is an elegy for her father, a scientist who worked on the hubble telescope.