The Intentions of Thunder

A 2025 National Book Award winner, The Intentions of Thunder (Scribner) is a collection of essential works from Professor Patricia Smith’s distinguished career. Highlighting the powerful clarity and originality of her voice, these poems move through grief, history, and hope for the future. Smith’s language crackles with precision and intensity, revealing the breadth of her emotional and imaginative range. The Intentions of Thunder is a reminder of the necessity of poetry in our lives and affirms Smith’s place as one of the most vital poets writing today.