If the pen is mightier than the sword, then Danez Smith’s written words are sharper than any blade. The talented, award-winning poet nurtures our souls and pulls at heartstrings with poetry about everything from a Black queer youth’s coming-of-age to Black Americans navigating everyday social injustices. The National Book Award finalist has released three poetry books, <em>Homie</em>, <em>Don’t Call Us Dea</em>d, and <em>[Insert] Boy</em>, and two chapbooks, <em>black movie</em> and <em>hands on ya knees</em>. The St. Paul, Minnesota native has earned several accolades: a Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry and a McKnight Foundation Fellowship. This was a banner year for Smith. They curated their latest buzz-worthy release <em>Blues In Stereo: The Early Works of Langston Hughes</em>. And their latest collection, <em>Bluff: Poems</em>, was named one of TIME’s must-read books of 2024. Now that is the read. — J.S.M.