Bread of Angels

A reflective and poetic essay in which Patti Smith blends memory, spirituality, and the creative process into a meditation on artistic devotion. Drawing on her deep admiration for writers such as Arthur Rimbaud, she explores the power of literature and its ability to transform and sustain the soul.

In this piece, Smith recounts her personal encounters with Rimbaud’s work and the way his rebellious, visionary spirit shaped her own artistic identity. She weaves together moments from her travels, her inner life, and her search for meaning, ultimately portraying art as a kind of sacred sustenance—the “bread of angels”—that nourishes her through hardship, uncertainty, and longing.