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National Poetry Month’s Feature: Poet Cherrie Amour

Poet’s Bio: Cherrie Amour aka Cherrie Woods is a Baltimore-based, award-winning poet known for her candid, narrative verse exploring love, identity, relationships, and the layered complexities of belonging. Her work is featured in her poetry collection, Free to Be Me: Poems on Love, Life and Relationships.

 

She is the creator of the Words, Wine & Wings Poetry and Open Mic Show and has been featured by FOX45 News, The Baltimore Beacon, and Baltimore City Paper. Her poetry has appeared in Paterson Literary Review, Understorey Magazine, Poet’s Ink, The Pen Woman, The Fire Inside: Collected Poems and Stories from Zora’s Den, America’s Future Anthology, Yellow Arrow Journal, and Maryland in Poetry.

 

She is currently submitting her new poetry chapbook manuscript, Sit Comfortably Elsewhere, to publishers—a deeply personal collection exploring her life and perspective as a double immigrant.

 

Deliah Lawrence: When did you first realize poetry was a part of your voice or purpose?


 Cherrie Amour: I had always written poetry, as many people do, but I didn’t fully recognize it as my voice until after my sister passed away unexpectedly in the early 2000s from a chronic illness. Her loss deeply affected me, and poetry became my outlet for grief and healing. The words began pouring out of me with a consistency I had never experienced before, and that’s when I realized poetry was how I was meant to share my voice.

 

DL: What emotions or messages do you hope readers walk away with after reading your work?


CA: I hope readers walk away looking beyond the surface. I’ve always been someone who processes life deeply and tends to see things in layers, so that naturally finds its way into my writing. People often tell me I’m a deep thinker, and I believe my poetry reflects that. Even though my language is simple and accessible, I want my poems to invite readers to pause, reflect, and consider the deeper truths and emotions beneath what first appears on the page.

 

DL: In celebration of National Poetry Month, can you share one or two of your poems with us?


 CA: Absolutely, here you go!

 

Kid Bamboo (for Horatio Woods)

 

By Cherrie Woods aka Cherrie Amour

 

My 70-year-old West Indian grandfather

Wore his tailored “shirt jacks” on Sunday afternoons,

Alternating the colors black, grey, navy blue, and brown.

 

One pocket, two pockets, and four pockets—

Some had fancy embroidery and others none.

All were crisp like a freshly toasted slice of bread.

 

His pants were brown, blue, or black,

All with two pockets

And ironed with seams as sharp as a razor.

 

Black or brown polished shoes

With a shine that could light a darkened room

Completed his weekly ensemble.

 

Every other day of the week,

My grandfather walked with his back bent

Or sat on the couch with his head in his hands.

 

On Sundays,

He would walk through the house several times

Straight and upright like a bamboo tree.

They called him “Kid Bamboo” when he was young.

 

On Sundays, we would sit on the couch watching him walk back and forth.

There was no bent back,

No slowness in his stride.

 

(Published by Yellow Arrow Journal Vignette/Amplify 2024)


My Poetry featured on YouTube:

DL: What projects, collections, or collaborations are you currently working on?


CA: I’m currently developing a full collection of poems and planning the next installment of my Words, Wine & Wings poetry series. I’m also submitting my chapbook manuscript to publishers and completing applications for writing retreats, both of which are helping me deepen and expand my creative practice.

 

DL: Where can readers connect with you and experience more of your poetry?

CA: Readers can connect with me here:

DL: Thank you so much for sharing your voice with us. Your words remind us of the beauty, depth, and power poetry brings to the world.

 

CA: Thanks for having me!






 

 

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