I’m Going Back to Minnesota Where Sadness Makes Sense Danez Smith
O California, don’t you know the sun is only a god if you learn to starve for him? I’m bored with the ocean I stood at the lip of it, dressed in down, praying for snow I know, I’m strange, too much light makes me nervous at least in this land where the trees always bear green. I know something that doesn’t die can’t be beautiful. Have you ever stood on a frozen lake, California? The sun above you, the snow & stalled sea—a field of mirror all demanding to be the sun too, everything around you is light & it’s gorgeous & if you stay too long it will kill you & it’s so sad, you know? You’re the only warm thing for miles & the only thing that can’t shine.
[image: Text excerpts from the poem, available by clicking “dogs!” in the text above. The second stanza in the second image is text at angles that intersects each other, saying “ruff ruff motherfuckaaaaa!!” All other stanzas are text blocks.]
Go down a rabbit hole with Franny Choi, Danez Smith, and guest Kimiko Hahn on the new episode of VS!
[image: Red background with white text reading, “There are all sorts of ways of exploding things open —Kimiko Hahn, Season 2, Episdoe 12. Bottom right has the VS logo.]
The schedule of this year’s Chicago Poetry Block Party is now live! If you’re in Chicago, join us for this free celebration of poetry, music, art, and community at Austin Town Hall on Saturday, July 28.
