Good Bones

“What I Carried” by Maggie Smith (2017)

Published in Smith’s 2017 collection Good Bones, “What I Carried” explores similar themes to “Good Bones,” such as fear and apprehension about the state of the world. Like “Good Bones,” “What I Carried” tries to make sense of a world rooted in violence and fear, and ultimately how to exist within it.

“Parachute” by Maggie Smith (2017)

Circling around themes of beauty, existence, and child rearing, “Parachute,” published in Good Bones, is a helpful poem to read alongside Smith’s “Good Bones” to gain a deeper understanding of Smith’s arguments concerning the world, children, and how to tell difficult truths to the innocent.

“What Kind of Times Are These” by Adrienne Rich (1995)

Written by poet Adrienne Rich, “What Kind of Times Are These” is an activist poem in a similar literary tradition to “Good Bones.” Rich’s poem calls attention to injustices and asks the reader to listen to the truth, calling on them to act and work to change the world from its current state.