Find TRACING BODIES
“Watts captures gritty characters in stunning detail throughout the book. Watts’ striking poems are at once intimate and universal. Her characters come to life in evocative details… A vulnerable, clear-eyed portrait of humanity.”
KIRKUS
“Watts continues to blend “you are here” moments of revelation and discovery with a special thread of personal insight in a Proust-like manner. Her approach places readers in the position of not just observing life moments, but experiencing them vicariously… Vivid in its connections and reflections and filled with both personal experience and reflections, Tracing Bodies provides a wealth of insights that are delightfully experiential and emotionally evocative. They’re highly recommended even to those who think they won’t like or understand poetry. Here is a door to what modern free verse can achieve, accessible to not just literary readers, but to all.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
In Tracing Bodies, Virginia Watts maps the delicate, aching terrain of memory, love, and loss with unflinching honesty. These poems pulse with the ghosts of the past—childhood shadows, family echoes, and the quiet, enduring presence of the natural world. With lyrical precision and a storyteller’s heart, Watts invites us into a world where the past lingers, grief hums beneath the surface, and beauty can be found in even the most fleeting moments.
Don’t miss this stellar collection from the author of the award-winning ECHOES FROM THE HOCKER HOUSE.
Reviews:
From Gabby Gilliam:
This collection manages to feel both deeply personal and universal at the same time. We, as readers, experience each event the poet recounts for us on an emotional journey through the pages. Even if you don’t normally like to read poetry, the concise language and raw emotion of these poems will draw you in. It’s a wonderful collection.
From Ellis Elliott of Bewilderness Writing:
Visceral Imagery, Relatable, Beautifully Crafted: I absolutely loved this poetry collection! I love the visceral imagery and the resonant endings as we follow the poet through the twists and turns of a well-lived life. I even loved how it was organized and the poem titles.5.0 out of 5
And Read the Interview Here:
Find Virginia Watts
And Check Out ECHOES FROM THE HOCKER HOUSE
OLD SCRATCH PRESS 