The richness of language and sturdy voice that runs throughout Amber McBrideâs poetry collection Thick With Trouble/ is so vivid, at times the speakerâs leap off the page to confront the reader. At other moments, the poems are so intimate, so deeply honest, you may feel youâve stumbled on to a diary in verse. This collection is one of the most exceptional debuts Iâve read in some time.
Known for her YA novel Me (Moth), McBride moves into the world of poetry with grace and without hesitation. Broken into five sections separated by imagined tarot cards-The Devilâs Sister (Reversed), The Empress with a Whip, The Hermit Woman Named Griot, The Devilâs Sister (Upright, The Magician-est-the poems are aligned with each subheading to deliver an imagined progression of a womanâs life. The poetry is deep and referential; some poems feature conjured definitions and conversations with foundational American artists like Nina Simone and Walt Whitman . The poems are free on the page, unconstrained by any conventional form; single words or even letters are often underlined for emphasis, text is bolded, stanzas transform in length and focus.
At the heart of all of it is Black experience and womenâs experience. In the poem â11 Years Old (Bleeding)â McBride tackles first menstruation with the same horror and reverence many women will recognize. The speaker, upon complaining that her first period hurts, is told âit shouldâ by a character that could be any or all older women. In terms of Black experience, McBrideâs excellent poem âI Wonât Let Anybody (Black) Die Aloneâ is both an acknowledgement and a promise that will stay with you long after you read it.
If youâre interested in the best of what is contemporary poetry today, Thick With Trouble should be mandatory reading.