Good Bones By Maggie Smith: Poem Analysis

Maggie Smith is a 21st century American poet. She received a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MFA from Ohio State University. Besides being the author of Good Bones (Tupelo, Press, 2017); her other works were The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison (Press, 2015), and, “Lamp the Body (Red Hen Press, 2005). She has accumulated many writing awards and has work as a freelance writer and editor as well as servicing as a consulting editor to the Kenyon Review. She resides in Bexley, a suburb in Columbus, Ohio.

Good Bones, by Maggie Smith, is poem that she wrote in 2015, originally published in Waxwing, Issue 10, in June 2016 and is being distribute by Tupelo Press (Tupelo, Press, 2017). The poem begins with the characteristic of literalist, which

It is an ignominy that seems to be shaking the world fundamental foundation. Smith, verbalizes that, when writing this poem, “I’m having a little trouble connecting words that come after each other to make sense. All of my social media accounts are full of fear, anger, and blame and shame, such extreme emotions to guide us”. She went on to say that, besides the other works (she is an activist) poetry helps me make sense of the world and it’s repetition, thinking about the things that need to be said at least twice to sink in.”

Good Bones became the anthem for the Orlando massacre when a gunman who

I believe this poem shows more of Dionysian, which express a personal state which “signifying the passionate and creative (often impulsive) aspects of art, society, or an individual”. which translates passion, feelings and shows empathy.

The value of this work gives a message that even though we read, hear and see the worst of what is going on in American and in the world somehow, we have to continue to maintain that sanctuary impression of keeping the positive climate for our children. The poem’s subject speaks truth; parents try to protect their children. We must always show them the light even when darkness is all around us and that is easier while they are young. when they become of age and they are more aware of their surroundings and start questioning we have the dilemma of when need to gradually break the news to them, with some intermingling of hope ascends to what the latter of what this poem is saying, I am trying to sell them the world. Any decent realtor, walking you through a real shithole, chirps on about good bones: This place could be beautiful, right? You could make this place