Description: All his life, William Stanley searched for a wild place of his own. Growing up in the straightened-out city blocks of his childhood and finding some respite in summer trips to a cabin in the woods, he yearned for space, fragrant soil, tall trees, and the silence that surrounds them. In Hawaii, he learned of acres of land depleted from toxic agricultural practices, and he became determined to restore that land and create one of the most comprehensive palm gardens in the world. With hope and lyricism, this enchanting story reveals how famed US Poet Laureate and ecologist W. S. Merwin planted nearly three thousand palm trees on his property in Hawaii, leaving as his legacy a wild space for everyone.
Brief description: Carrie Fountain is an award-winning poet whose book Burn Lake was a National Poetry Series winner. Her work has been published in Poetry Magazine, American Poetry Review, and The New Yorker. She lives with her family in Texas.