Daniel Smith's poetry is grounded in the rural Midwest, particularly his family's dairy farm where he lived and farmed for over 50 years. His poems, in language direct and accessible, speak of his commitment to an ancestral place and way of life, and to the emotional turbulence leaving such a life presents. With the practicality of a farmer and the syntax of a poet, Smith explores the changing landscape of rural America. His writing has appeared in literary journals nationwide. Since retiring from active farming in 2008, Smith has worked as a counselor for farm families in crisis. Today, he lives with his wife, Cheryl, on a small farm in Wisconsin's Driftless Region.