"Declaration" was initially published in 2018 as a part of author Tracy K. Smith's poetry collection Wade in the Water. "Declaration" is told from the perspective of an African American taken captive aboard a pirate ship on the high seas.
"Declaration" is structured like a person who wants to speak,but is unable to finish their thoughts. The novel is punctuated by a number of dashes ("and altering fundamentally the Forms of our—") and mirrors how many African Americans did not have a voice in their situations.
Smith's collection was shortlisted for the T.S. Elliot Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes anyone could get. It was also a finalist for the Best Poetry Collection award and the Forward Prize. Critical reviews felt similarly about the collection. The Guardian, for example, wrote in their glowing review that: "A long overdue collection from US poet laureate Tracy K Smith weaves a spiritual hymn to the nation’s forgotten people."
