A montage of poetic imagery, "A Tango with a Thistle" is inspired by the ordinary and extraordinary. Poems about the New England landscape, whimsical questions posed by children, like what would it be like to be a duck?-and derived from other situations, author Shane Robitaille's poems will appeal to both poetry buffs and those who haven't read a poem in years.

Although most poetry volumes do not include illustrations or photography, Robitaille feels that photos enhance "A Tango with a Thistle's" appeal. Paul Robitaille, who has been capturing New England's unique landscape in...