Bates' poems express what it means to belong to the natural world, to attempt to be a "card-carrying" member rather than an intruder or merely a tourist. The intersection of science and spirit is where these poems reside, and while they offer depth and insight, they ask an equal number of questions.

This is Bates' first book of poetry, but it comes on the heels of 22 years of publishing seven non-fiction books of observations in Wisconsin's Northwoods. The book is divided into three sections: Water, Woods, and Home. In every one, a mindful...