Voices: A Collection of Poetry

Our lives are all about stories, and in Voices, Amba returns to exploring those stories. This collection is in three distinct sections: in the skin, in the dark, in the mind. ‘In the skin’ is about the body. Amba looks at tattoos, scars, and more, as the stories that a person captures in their skin – the stories we choose to show, or hide. She also explores the reasons that people tattoo, or modify their bodies. The way that tattoos can be addictive, their voices a solace to the soul.

‘In the dark’ is intimate poetry – the love stories we live. Much of this poetry describes simple everyday moments in relationships. She captures love that is worn around the edges from life, love that is a second chance, love that is imperfect. The verse in this section can be quiet, and can be raw.

‘In the mind’ explores aging, agency, and the stories we tell ourselves (and sometimes others) in our twilight years. Honest moments Amba has seen others navigating age. It also taps into her own experience of aging. The poetry in this section resonates with both children trying to make hard decisions that affect everyone, and parents coming to terms with the role-reversal aging so often prompts.

Amba’s premier volume, Maiden Mother Crone, received the 2023 Imadjinn Award.