Jesse is a writer, composing essays, poetry, speeches, and articles. In December 2023, she launched her Substack publication, a subscriber based writing platform sent out weekly to readers. Her Substack posts include personal writing, reflections on literary figures, as well as journaling prompts and exercises for her subscribers to engage with. Her Substack was highlighted as a featured publication in 2024. Here is her About page which includes subscriber testimonials.
Jesse Paris Smith
Navigator’s Collective
Some featured posts:
People
Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson
Family Reflections
Poetry and Books
The Presence and Presents of Books
NY International Antiquarian Book Fair 2025
NY International Antiquarian Book Fair 2024
Music
Other Favorite Posts
Action is the Antidote to Despair
Legacies and Elegies for Birds
Before launching her own, she contributed to her mother’s Substack, writing obituary words for Cairo, their Abyssinian cat who died in September, 2023.
Her short essay, Mommy, was printed in Issue 57 of the Columbia Journal.
In March 2021, The Great Frog London featured her poem, ‘Frog Metal: Verdigris’ on their website, along with a reading of it by Jesse along with other writer’s poems, for World Poetry Day, 2021.
Jesse contributed to the liner notes of Songs from the Bardo, sharing the background story and mission of the album
Steven Sebring’s short film, ‘Wheel of Time,’ includes Jesse’s mother reading her poem, ‘Revolution,’ written by Jesse for the video.
Other poems and writing:
‘Lapis Lazuli’ written and read at Elizabeth Street Garden for their Poetry Sundays Series
Words and Voiceover for World Ocean Day film
Words and Voiceover for World Water Day film
Water into Water, read for World Poetry Day 2022
April + April, read for Poem in Your Pocket Day, 2021
Ox Goes to the Water and Wondrous Water Ox, read for Lunar New Year, 2021
A page from Esta Tierra magazine, 2018