On June 1st, 2017, the University of Washington Bookstore hosted Elizabeth Elliott’s first reading from her new collection, Climate Change and Nature: While Choice is Ours.

The poems, most new and some previously published, depicted with the paintbrush of words the extreme weather, violent storms, punishing heat and drought that come with climate change.

The Reading

In evocative words and phrasings, Elliott’s poems unpacked the full range of emotions these planetary changes call forth – from denial to rage. Her emphasis, always, was on the choices we humans have made and can still make, compelling the audience to look inside.

The Audience

A mix of longtime fans and new readers packed into a corner of this buzzing-with-activity campus bookstore – listening raptly as the poet read from her sixth book of poetry.