From an award-winning poet, a rousing act of erasure poetry that compels us to reexamine one of America’s most significant founding texts
Crystal Simone Smith’s powerful work exposes the uncomfortable truth about America’s founding text. While Common Sense is celebrated as a cornerstone of American democracy, Thomas Paine’s arguments for “total freedom and equality” were written exclusively for white men—completely excluding women and people of color from his vision of liberation.
Through innovative erasure poetry, Smith transforms this foundational document into a mirror reflecting both our nation’s incomplete promises and today’s ongoing struggle for true equality. By making Paine’s original text translucent and highlighting specific words, she reveals new meanings that speak to the experiences of ALL Americans—those who were silenced in 1776 and those still fighting for recognition today.
This creative reinterpretation arrives at a crucial moment—just as America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. Smith’s previous work, Dark Testament, has been recognized for its ability to illuminate hidden histories and challenge dominant narratives.
This work:
- Transforms a crucial historical document into living, breathing poetry
- Exposes the contradictions in America’s founding mythology
- Encourages critical thinking about citizenship and democracy
- Offers a fresh lens for understanding civil rights struggles
The book’s pamphlet design echoes Paine’s original format while the visual erasure technique creates a haunting reminder of whose voices were erased from our nation’s story.
“[A] sagacious and resounding performance . . . [S]harply relevant in this time of accelerated challenges to the constitution and the rule of law and renewed attacks on the rights of women, immigrants, people of color, trans people, and all who question the government.”
—Booklist
Preface
Author’s Note
Induction
I. The Origin of the Constitution
II. Of Monarchy
III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs
IV. Of the Present Ability of America
Acknowledgments