Martha's Vineyard

Dan Waters

Dan Waters, 53, is a poet, printer and printmaker. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he moved to the Vineyard in 1977. Dan is perhaps best known for his humorous quatrains, often published in the Vineyard Gazette and Yankee Magazine as "D.A.W." and recorded for the Cape and Islands' NPR station. More recently, he is the author of three books of poetry and prints. Dan prints his own work--including his poetry collections and woodblock prints--out of his West Tisbury home (Indian Hill Press). Three of Beetlebung women's shirts have been based on Dan's block prints, including the Mermaid shirt, which is one of our most popular. Dan's poetry has won numerous awards and, in 2006, he was appointed the first Poet Laureate of West Tisbury. His latest poetry collection, Skunk Night Sonnets, will be published in July.

Especially on the Vineyard, April is "mostly a month of anticipating summer," Dan says. His favorite Vineyard activities for the month of April are:

"10. Trade storm windows for mosquito screens.

9. Clean the grill for the year's first cookout.

8. Check the mail for my tax refund. (And don't hold my breath.)

7. Watch as stores and restaurants slowly open for the season.

6. Count the growing number of out-of-state license plates.

5. Catch a nighttime concert of homegrown local music at Che's Lounge, Vineyard Haven.

4. Listen to the pinkletinks (spring peepers) serenading the twilight.

3. Make nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds, who always arrive around the 15th.

2. Hunt for skunk cabbages at Waskosims Rock Nature Preserve.

1. Write wistful poems about all the things I love about spring."