Announcing a New Book: Canal Contemplations

Celebrating National Poetry Month with poetry and photos of the Hood Canal in print and in person

Greetings All,

April is almost upon us, which means National Poetry month, and for me, the release of a new book into the world: Canal Contemplations: Poetry and Photos of Washington’s Hood Canal, as well as two author events celebrating the Hood Canal.

Over the years many of you have suggested I publish a book of photography, and as much as the idea of a coffee table photography book appeals to me, I can’t leave the words behind, especially when the photos I take often inspire poems. So here’s the best of both worlds. Nearly all of the 57 poems are paired with a full-color photo, weaving together my experiences and images of life on the Canal in words and images.

Canal Contemplations is only available in paperback [Kindle doesn’t preserve formatting and the layout in this book is important to me]. The book is currently live on Amazon, and should be available from bookshop.org in a few weeks for those who prefer not to purchase from Amazon. The look inside feature is enabled, so you can see the table of contents and read the first few poems in the book.

In Canal Contemplations, poet and photographer Cathy Warner immerses readers in the wonders of the world outside her windows. From the shore of Annas Bay at the Great Bend of the fjord known as the Hood Canal, Warner trains her lens, pen, and imagination on the sights, sounds, and rhythms of life at water's edge. With entries ranging from the grandeur of Washington's Olympic Mountains in sun, snow, and shadow, to the antics of seals, otters, and diving ducks, her poems and photos are as varied as the changing landscape she portrays. Warner's entries offer inspiration and beauty without shying away from the challenges living close to nature brings. Her collection is the perfect keepsake for local residents and visitors to the Hood Canal alike.

LOCAL FOLKS YOU’LL FIND ME READING FROM MY NEW BOOK HERE:

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SATURDAY, APRIL 26 4 P.M. MARMO GALLERY, 217 W. Cota St., Shelton.

I’ll be a featured reader of Poetry of the Hood Canal, along with my brother-in-law Sterling Warner, and two others at the Marmo Gallery and Cafe. Oysters will be on the menu and an open mike follows.

I’ll have copies of my book for sale at both events.

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From Canal Contemplations

Sing To Me Of Spring

Sing to me of spring
of chattering creeks
and raucous rivers burbling blue
Sing to me of spring
of boisterous big leaf maple
and hiccupping hemlocks
of cotton candy clouds
and the hide-n-seek sun
Sing to me of spring
of eagle acrobatics
and great blue herons in grand jete
Sing to me of spring
of perfumed pollen
and my itchy eyes
will blink and my creaky
knees will bend
before such beauty

Wishing you all a glorious Spring and perfectly poetic April.