Seasonal Wonderings

Ellie Bates is a visionary of the natural world. Whether it be the land, the sky, the sea, the dunes, the trees, Ellie looks at them all with a unique eye full of understanding and love...and they look back at her. She is a friend of the natural world, and in her poems, she shares a vision of nature that we only think we see. This is a lovely read.

-Jill Jupen, Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate, author of The Space Between

Ellie Bates's poetry collection Seasonal Wonderings follows the seasons on the island of Martha's Vineyard, from the first crocus's "purple head pushing" through snow, through June lavender "exploded in the herb garden like fireworks," to a child's mitten "hanging on the playground fence," with the main theme being 'paying attention'... to the world, to our reactions to it, and to the passing of time.

-Donald Nitchie, author of the poetry collection Driving Lessons and leader of Poetry Drop-in Writing Sessions, Martha's Vineyard Chapter.