Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah

by Patricia Smith

Winner of 2013 Wheatley Book Award in Poetry
Finalist for 2013 William Carlos Williams Award
Winner of 2014 Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry

"Patricia Smith is writing some of the best poetry in America today. Ms Smith’s new book, Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah , is just beautiful—and like the America she embodies and represents—dangerously beautiful. Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah is a stunning and transcendent work of art, despite, and perhaps because of, its pain. This book shines." —Sapphire

"One of the best poets around and has been for a long time." —Terrance Hayes "Smith's work is direct, colloquial, inclusive, adventuresome." —Gwendolyn Brooks In her newest collection, Patricia Smith explores the second wave of the Great Migration. Shifting from spoken word to free verse to traditional forms, she reveals "that soul beneath the vinyl." Patricia Smith is the author of five volumes of poetry, including Blood Dazzler , a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award, and Teahouse of the Almighty , a National Poetry Series selection. She lives in New Jersey.

Genres: Poetry, Memoir, History, Read For School

116 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2012

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of poetry that in part chronicles the move of her family from South to North, from Alabama to Chicago. And we see her struggles and joys with growing up black, with sexuality, with soul music. Too many favorites to list here. But as with other works by Smith, this is visceral poetry, poetry of the body, unashamed and explicit and marveling. And compared to earlier poetry one might also describe this way, this collection reflects her deep study of form. Language play and dramatic effects have always been part of this five time National Poetry Slam-winner's work. She's the best live poet alive, mesmerizing. At turns hilarious and angry and tender, always, she is here a student of formal considerations in a way she was not early on. Blood Dazzler had more rage about it, of course, a white hot flame, while this is more reflective again about her life in Chicago, about growing up. The performance poet with each book becomes also a page poet, a much deserving National Book Award nominee.

I read this one poem at a time over a few weeks, and I complete it as I complete Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson, a National Book Award winner for 2014 in Young adult Literature. Both books deal with the move from South to North and growing up. Woodson's book is lovely, but it is pointed to young people, and she has now been anointed the Poet Laureate for Young People by Poetry magazine. The audience for Jimi Savannah is not primarily kids, though I suspect the author would say we should not attempt to "protect" kids form language and experiences they already know well, and I'd agree, and will use poems in this book in conjunction with Brown Girl Dreaming in a YA course this summer. Some of the language just leaves me breathless. I can't wait to hear her read again here in Chicago.

[Tishon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to love in this book. I found myself scribbling exclamation points and stars all throughout its margins. A few pages have been dogeared for rereading. Mostly, it's many stories of Patricia's upbringing - her mother's journey from the south to Chicago, her first sexual experiences, blackness. The themes aren't necessarily new but the deftness with which they've been handled are masterful. Patricia Smith knows what she's doing, period.

[Br. Thanasi (Thomas) Stama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Smith's latest book of poetry is incredible! She has shared her family's migration from Alabama to the North. She shared her hope hopes and dreams and perspective from the 60's on in her own life. It will make you laugh, cry and be disturbed about our races relations during those days of the 60's. May we never forget how we destroy hopes and dreams through racism, sexism, and many other types of injustice.

[Matthew Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as ambitious as Blood Dazzler, but because it's Patricia Smith, the writing is of course top-notch. Her crown of sonnets for Motown, her serpentine sestina for Stevie Wonder, and her invented form poem about being 13 are particularly thrilling and memorable.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not always a patient poetry reader, but this searing collection by yet another VCFA PGW faculty, had me at the first entry: How Mammas Begin Sometimes. BTW: National Book Award Finalist.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book which could be considered an extended narrative history of the author's family, tracing her mother's roots in the Alabama delta through one of the great Southern migrations to the allure of Chicago and on, culminating in the author's adolescence.

I was especially taken with the poem about her naming (and thus, the title of the book) and about watching the unfolding of the Vietnam War on television back when news had a purpose. I'm sure others will attune to her adolescent reflections and family experiences.

This book may stretch an easy-going, light reading, poetry habit but it's well worth getting out of that comfort zone for.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ain't your mama never schooled you in how
black women collect the world, build other
bodies onto our own? No earthly man
knows the solution to our hips, asses
urgent as sirens, our titties bursting
with traveled roads. Ask Aretha just what
Jesus whispered to her that might about
the gospel hidden in lard and sugar.
She'll tell you why black girls grow fat
away from the world, and toward each other."

[Greg Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful word choice and hard-hitting images elevate this collection of poems above most others. Smith's el dente lines are substantial and filling. Reading her poetry aloud is like catching the flow of a sophisticated rap--you feel the words rather than contemplate their meaning. This is hard-hitting poetry that should NOT be overlooked!

[Sean]

A richly engrossing poetry collection that brings the texture of the author’s midcentury Chicago world to life. Sensory details, the challenges of growing up and of contorted racial attitudes, the promises and traps of Motown music and of TV news, and fraught but compassionate and loving reflections on family sing in these joyful, rough-edged poems.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Smith is one of the gods of poetry. She is so precise and clever with her word choices. If this book was water, it would be clear and ready to topple into the land. I loved this collection so much. It's sososososo good.

[Kirsten Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved her use of form, even when I did not quite understand what she was doing. And she is masterful at writing last lines that I could not have predicted, but that after I read them I recognized could not possibly have been anything else.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 S6563s 2012

[Tasheika B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book poetry at its best!!

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 4 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: Patricia's Motown feels like golden Hip-Hop.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Smith makes music in her poetry. Essential reading!

[Jafyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for class and had the privilege to get to listen to Patricia Smith read some of her poems in person. Such a good collection of poetry!

[Derrick Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was so much to experience and learn from this book. I frequently found myself doubling back to examine the forms Patricia Smith leverages. They often appeared unadorned and didn't announce themselves to me until 6-8 lines. "Have Soul and Die" contains my new life aspiration and is, itself, a justification for purchase. "To Keep From Saying Dead" is an amazing homage to Gwendolyn Brooks.

Favorites:
- Before Orphan Unearthed the Mirror
- Otis and Annie, Annie and Otis
- Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah
- 3315 W. Washington, 3A
- Annie Pearl's Aretheabops (3)
- Laugh Your Troubles Away
- The Boss of Me
- Jumping Doubledutch
- First Friction
- Have Soul and Die
- Tavern. Tavern. Church. Shuttered Tavern,
- Because
- To Keep From Saying Dead
- 13 Ways of Looking at 13
- Dear Jimmy Connoll
- His for the Taking
- Dirty Diana
- Asking for a Heart Attack
- Looking to See How the Eyes Inhabit Dark, Wondering About Light
- Thief of Tongues

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of this book; from the very first poem, which starts hard, echoes from Blood Dazzler, I felt a set tone, a very Patricia Smith tone that told me instead of warned me about what was to come.

A memoir-narrative poetic sequence, the book invokes Smith's parents and their move to Chicago and includes accessible and beautiful discourses on female blackness, urbanity, and music.

Almost every poem is a wonder.

[Syreeta McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith is such an awesome storyteller and wizard with words. I write this after I read Mathis' 'Twelve Tribes of Hattie'. If you read Mathis, I strongly suggest you give Smith's collection a read. It's a similar and powerful conversation about black migration and life in north. I'm so glad that both exist in the world.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little late to the party, but this book is amazing. Patricia is a master of poetry and storytelling. She's true to her voice while also truthfully honoring that of the people in her poems. I know Patricia first as a performance poet, so it was a delight to be able to see her work on the page, but also I could hear her performing it in my mind.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first full collection I've read by Patricia Smith. I love the grittiness of her voice, how her poems in this book all feel like summer- like you feel the oppression of humidity and city grime and exhaust. she speaks of a childhood in a way that makes it feel like she grew up a lifetime ago.

[Collin Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith continues to dazzle with this new collection that has the migration of African Americans from the south to the north at its uncompromising core. It's also a love letter to her native Chicago. A must-read.

[Sarahjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had the vocabulary to discuss the brilliance of her formal choices, because describing this as a book that even people who don't like poetry will grok is often a way of saying that it isn't too complicated formally. But this is both sophisticated and approachable, and gripping.

[Cyrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia's latest book brought back vivid memories of growing up Black in the Motown period. Amazingly vital, compassionate, and engaging poetry by one of my favorite contemporary poets.

[Christina Olivares · Rating 5 out of 5]

listened to patricia smith read the lysol poem at the green mile in chicago. holy sh!t jesus.

rest of the book is fantastic, of course.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. This one is the poetic companion to "The Warmth of Other Suns."

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it...I want to write like Patricia Smith!

[Naima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best piece of poetry I have read by anyone ever.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

powerful, deserves all the accolades it received. i did bog down a bit in the middle but the beginning and end were amazing

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the poems more than others. There is a lot African American pride and struggles packed into Patricia Smith's poetry.