Author(s): Steph Amir; Ben Harmon (Designed by)

Poetry | Australian/Aotearoa

Pieces That Fit is a collection of poems -- some autobiographical, others speculative but inspired by real events -- set in Melbourne. The book is divided into five parts. The first four are North, East, South and West, reflecting the poet's experiences and observations across each geographical area of her city, from childhood memories of her grandfather (East), to being a young adult dating all the wrong people (West), to the dystopian world of fertility clinics (South), and raising her own children (North). The final section, 262 Days at Home, focuses on the home environment, the experience of Melbourne's six COVID lockdowns, and the city's re-emergence.

Steph Amir was a zoologist before becoming an elected local councillor. She is queer, neurodivergent, and lives with the ongoing physical and mental impacts of Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- a demyelinating illness that caused temporary paralysis and permanent nerve damage. She has two donor children and is an embryo donor herself. These experiences are reflected in her collection, with poems about the bats in Yarra Bend Park, life as a scientist-turned-politician, the dystopian world of fertility clinics, parenthood, the resilience of the LGBTIQ community, mental illness, disability, and suburban life.

The poems are contemporary. Many are humorous most are in a narrative style, reflecting relatable experiences. Because of this, the book is accessible even for people who wouldn't usually read poetry. The collection is for Melbournians or anyone looking for poetry with a contemporary Melbourne focus. It is also for parents, people in the LGBTIQ and/or disability communities, or those who enjoy looking at life from different angles.

Poet Andy Jackson, who won the 2022 Prime Minister's Literary Award for poetry says: "The playfulness within Steph Amir's poetry is eloquent and contagious. She writes with curiosity and sensitivity from within the queerness of the everyday. These are poems alert to the perils of being human in the Anthropocene, as well as the potential for transformation and joy."

July 2023