Knoxville, Tennessee by Nikki Giovanni

Knoxville, Tennessee

by Nikki Giovanni

I always like summer

best

you can eat fresh corn

from daddy's garden

and okra

and greens

and cabbage

and lots of

barbecue

and buttermilk

and homemade ice-cream

at the church picnic

and listen to

gospel music

outside

at the church

homecoming

and go to the mountains with

your grandmother

and go barefooted

and be warm

all the time

not only when you go to bed

and sleep

This poem by nikki giovanni, published in her book, Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgment, first published in 1968 (!), is the perfect summer poem.

It is also a great poem that represents the power of poetry. You may not be in Knoxville, your father may not have a garden, you may not care for gospel music or church or going barefoot, but this poem will--by the poet using her own details--make you think of your summer loves (maybe the seashore, or wearing shorts, or going to air-conditioned art museums).

This is a pure list poem. The speaker introduces her topic--we have already been grounded into a specific place in the title--and then presents her reasons. Most of the list items use only one line, and giovanni's line breaks create an enthusiastic, almost breathless speed, mimicking the way most kids talk when they are very excited.

I especially love the ending (this poem was, of course, written long before climate change created dangerous summer temperatures).

and be warm

all the time

not only when you go to bed

and sleep

This is one of the joys of the season. That feeling of constant warmth is comforting, and it does not require flannel p.j.s and a pile of blankets--pure existence is enough.

There is so much joy in this poem, and it so perfectly encapsulates summertime. It is a great poem to share with kids; like much of the poetry she was writing at the time, this is one of the poems giovanni that can resonate and be understood by people of all ages.

Day 3 of summer 2025 is upon us! I hope you will share this poem with the kids (and everyone) in your life, preferably while you are all eating ice cream!