Stages: Poems

by Tramaine Suubi

Critically acclaimed writer Tramaine Suubi follows up her debut phases, with stages . This powerful meditation, written with the endurance of Lucille Clifton, focuses on choices and changes throughout life, from Yellow Dwarf to Protostar.

In this breathtaking companion poetry collection, inspired by the evolution of our brightest star, Tramaine Suubi offers poems alluding to the history of how it came to be and its effects on each human life. Listeners will discover poems exploring everything from the gimmicks of capitalism to the false promises of tranquility.

This is another brilliant collection that will only reinforce Suubi as a rising star of her generation.

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[boundbyjaida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Amistad for this amazing ARC of Stages by Tramaine Suubi!

What a work that explores the black woman’s experience through a well sectioned collection! We explore the beauty of childhood to the freedom of adulthood. There is an emphasis on desire and Suubi explores this and many other themes through stylistic and syntactical ways that are inspiring for any poet. Amistad I want to thank you for your effort to maintain the faithfulness of the ebook to the print book, especially in this day and age where it is preferred by some and accessible for all. There is nothing better than holding a book of poetry in your hands, but the genre can be well distributed through libraries and online stores through ebooks. Despite it being digital, there was a level of spirituality that soothed me through the screen from the speaker’s voice. Love this collection!

[Ivoree Malcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stages is a nice, quick read that includes several poems, making it an easy & accessible collection. While the poems each stand on their own, I couldn’t identify a strong overall connection or consistent theme tying them together, which made the book feel somewhat disjointed. With a title like Stages, I expected the poems to transition or progress in a way that reflected different phases of life, growth, or spiritual development, but that sense of progression wasn’t very clear. I guess that's what I get for having expectations, huh?

That said, I absolutely adored the sprinkles of Bible scripture & references throughout the collection. Those moments added a meaningful spiritual layer
& were easily the most memorable & impactful part of the book.

Overall, Stages is a pleasant read with thoughtful elements, but the lack of a clear unifying theme or progression held it back from feeling fully cohesive.

*I received an advance review copy for free & am leaving this review voluntarily.*

#ThankGodForARCs

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was tremendous. So incredibly vulnerable and still well planned. The book takes us through Tramaine Suubi’s life in stages as categorized by the life cycle of a star. Because of the way the book is organized, there is a clear growth in Suubi as narrator and as a “character” in her life. These poems are a reflection on how the smallest moments can have huge impacts on who we are as people. There is so much growth reflected in these pages and so much emotion. I would highly recommend picking up a hard copy of this or reading it on a Kindle or iPad. The wonderful formatting needs a larger surface to shine, so phones won’t do it justice. It’s truly worth the purchase though!