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Atlanta poet Teri Elam’s debut, “Digging Beneath Bones” (Finishing Line Press, out now), features a dynamic collection of poems that explore mothers, daughters, fathers, faith and growing up Black in the South.

This monthly series features poems by women of color in the early stages of their publishing careers. It is our intention to create more space at Perugia for the work of poets who are Black, Indigenous, and women of color (BIWOC). We hope using our platform to highlight this work will expand the readership of the poets we spotlight. This series aligns with Perugia’s mission to celebrate and support emerging women poets, inclusive of gender-expansive identities; featured poems will be from poets with no more than one published full-length collection.

Augusta native teri elam has worn a lot of hats: HR, leadership‑ development coach, poet, screenwriter — and now the author of her debut poetry collection Digging Beneath Bones.

Elam says her creative spark started early, back at Terrace Manor Elementary. Teachers encouraged her and those grade‑school poems spoke to her.