Common Sense (1776), Addressed to Today's Citizens of America: An Erasure
Mar 2026 · Sold by Beacon Press
Ebook
112
Pages
Tools
info
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
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· Transforms a crucial historical document into living, breathing poetry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.
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.
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 Ameri...
Discover more
About the author
Crystal Simone Smith is an award-winning poet and educator. She is the author of Runagate: Songs of the Freedom Bound (Duke University Press, 2025) and Dark Testament (Henry Holt, 2023). She also authored three poetry chapbooks. In 2022, her collection of haiku, Ebbing Shore, won The Haiku Foundation Touchstone Distinguished Book Award. Smith is the recipient a Duke Humanities Unbounded Fellowship. Her work has appeared in numerous journals including Prairie Schooner, POETRY Magazine, Crab Orchard Review, Frogpond, and Modern Haiku. She teaches in the Thompson Writing Program at Duke University and writes poetry about the human condition and social change. Smith is the current President of the Haiku Society of America.
Crystal Simone Smith is an award-winning poet and educator. She is the author of Runagate: Songs of the Freedom Bound (Duke University Press, 2025) and Dark Testament (Henry Holt, 2023). She also authored three poetry chapbooks. In 2022, her collection of haiku, Ebbing Shore, won The Haiku Founda...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
