About Amy

The “official” bio, e.g. the short version: 

Amy Georgia Smith writes poetry because it roots her into spaces that feel like home. She published her first poetry collection, Composting the Moon, in March 2022. Amy is currently pursuing an MFA degree in poetry through the low-residency program at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe. 

The wordy, more personal version:

I was born among tumbleweeds and sheer basalt cliffs; raised by ocean, evergreens, and that scent of rain on pavement. Now, I am tethered to the desert song of coyote and the trouble of faith. Stone is my spirit animal. I write by hand with old fountain pens. I sometimes make things out of clay. I like to sing, but can’t carry much of a tune. I have always been a poet, but it took me nearly 60 years to admit it.

As a poet, I am curious about the way language changes over time, and how the words we use influence what we see, think, and/or believe; the way language feels in our bodies. I walk with questions and am drawn to paradox and mystery. I am interested in the story of body and place. Sometimes, I think about poetry as palimpsest. Sometimes, I write with the ancestors.

Much of my work-life over the years has included movement and anatomy. I have been a yoga teacher, a fitness trainer, a functional movement teacher, a massage therapist, an avid anatomy geek. These days, I am exploring the way poetry, movement, and community can weave together in a shared and generative practice.