In an age obsessed with perfection, where filters refine faces and words are carefully measured before being spoken, Astha Arora’s Unfolding Still stands out as a refreshing departure. Her collection of poems does not attempt to paint life in neat contrasts of black and white. Instead, it celebrates the greys — those uncertain, complex, deeply human spaces that most of us live in but rarely acknowledge.
The poet begins with an honest admission: not everyone’s life fits into defined categories of right or wrong. Between what we show and what we hide lies a spectrum of emotions that shape who we are. Unfolding Still is Astha’s invitation to explore these hidden corners, to meet the parts of ourselves we often ignore or disguise. Through her verses, she bares her own flaws and uncertainties, allowing readers to connect not with perfection, but with truth.
What makes this collection remarkable is its intimacy. The poems read less like formal pieces of literature and more like conversations, quiet reflections of the heart. Astha writes with disarming simplicity, yet her words carry an emotional resonance that lingers. Each line feels personal, but also universal, as if written for anyone who has ever questioned, stumbled, healed, or begun again.
The tone of the collection is confessional but not heavy. There is vulnerability in her words, but also strength — the strength to own every shade of oneself. Her verses glide through the emotions of love, loss, self-doubt, and self-discovery with a rhythm that feels natural, unforced. Some poems read like whispered secrets; others, like declarations of quiet courage. Together, they form a tender mosaic of the human spirit in all its imperfection.
Stylistically, Unfolding Still is uncluttered and direct. Astha avoids unnecessary ornamentation, choosing instead the honesty of plain speech. Her simplicity is her strength. The imagery is subtle yet evocative; a reflection of emotions rather than a spectacle of words. She doesn’t write to impress; she writes to express, and in doing so, she creates poetry that feels real, relatable, and deeply sincere.
The collection’s central idea, to “let your grey shine” is both poetic and empowering. It reminds readers that flaws are not failures, but features of individuality. The poet’s message is clear: embracing one’s imperfections is the first step towards unfolding the truest version of oneself.
Beyond its lyrical beauty, Unfolding Still offers a gentle kind of healing. It is a companion for moments of solitude, the kind of book you return to when you need reassurance that being human, in all its confusion and contradiction, is perfectly alright.
Astha Arora’s debut work is a quiet triumph. Without dramatics or pretence, she manages to hold a mirror to the reader’s soul. Her voice is one of authenticity, tender yet fearless. In a literary world often cluttered with grand expressions and polished facades, Unfolding Still speaks softly, but carries an undeniable truth.
For those who seek poetry that feels personal, grounded, and emotionally resonant, this book will find a permanent place on the bedside table. It does not demand to be read all at once; rather, it asks to be felt.
Unfolding Still reminds us that perfection is overrated, and that beauty often resides in the broken, the uncertain, and the still-unfolding parts of ourselves.