Shades Poetry Book

Shades is the debut poetry collection by Stephanie Esther Fam, a Singaporean poet, public speaker, and disability advocate. Launched in January 2022 at the Gateway Theatre, the book is the culmination of 18 years of writing and self-reflection.

Themes and Content

The collection features 51 poems that explore the "different shades" of the author’s identity. While Stephanie has Cerebral Palsy, she emphasizes that her disability is only one "shade" of who she is. The poems are organized into five key thematic sections:

• The Writer: Her perspective on the world as a creator.

• The Mother: Her relationship with her own mother and her personal desires regarding motherhood.

• The Woman: Her experiences with love, heartbreak, and identity.

• The Unspoken: Thoughts and emotions often left unsaid in social norms.

• The Soul: Deeper reflections on humanity and the human condition.

Key Highlights

• Creative Process: Due to her physical challenges, Stephanie composed many of these poems on her smartphone using predictive text technology.

• Influences: Her work is influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Linkin Park's Chester Bennington (to whom she dedicated the poem With Your Death), Eminem, and novelists like Margaret Atwood.

• Impact: Beyond the page, the book has been adapted into a play titled Absence and inspired a podcast called Shades of Steph. She also performed a recital from the book at the President’s Star Charity in Singapore.