Im going back to minnesota where sadness makes sense

‘I’m going back to Minnesota where sadness makes sense’
- Danez Smith

Todays #dailypoem was selected by PBS Member Ankita from our PBS Recommendation Homie by Danez Smith to mark the Black Lives Matter Protests currently happening in Minnesota.

PBS Members can order Homie by Danez Smith here with 25% off. 

I'm Going Back to Minnesota Where Sadness Makes Sense

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.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

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.