You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Nonfiction From cradle to late life, the godmother of punk remembers it all — including, especially, her life with the late Fred “Sonic” Smith. To the punk-rock world, the young Patti Smith was a poet; to the literary world, she was a punk rocker. Regardless, she excelled in both worlds.Credit...Frank Stefanko Nov.