Greetings!

Many heartfelt thanks go out to Sharon Frame Gay for this incredible review!

"Jim Bates is an accomplished writer in many genres, but I think his poetry is where he truly shines. This lovely book of Haiku reflects the heart of the man. A man who shares what his soul sees during the simplest of observations; a stormy sky, a summer morning, a gentle life. 

From autumn’s fiery display to the Minnesota chill of winter, Jim takes us for strolls through colorful woods, snow-encrusted fields, or bee-buzzing meadows, then ushers us into cozy cabins and candlelight. His poems hail the hopeful spring and orchestrate the cymbal clash of summer as the earth steps forward in full bloom and beckons us to see, to smell, to touch.

This is a deliciously seasoned book that begs to grace a coffee table and accompany the reader over a cup of tea and a moment of reflection. I highly recommend The Haiku Year, by an author with a true poet’s heart. Read it, and you will feel as though your spirit has come home."