Whispers in the Island Breeze

About the Book

As timeless as the island breeze whispering through the branches of the bougainvillea tree, Ellen West, a cultured West Indian woman, copes with the joys and tragedies of life through her poetry and art. This collection is in truth only a fraction of the insight she cultivated from her own reflections, and the reflections of generations before.

About the Author

Born in the British Virgin Islands on the island of Tortola in 1937, Ellen Louise Romney West was an artist. She was an avid painter who wrote many poems and short stories. Although she never attempted to have any of her written work published during her lifetime, her paintings and drawings are showcased in many homes across the globe. At a very early age she suffered from Rhumatic Fever, which significantly affected her health during her teen and adult years. She subsequently underwent many difficult procedures, including three open heart surgeries. The first surgery, in 1964, was considered to be pioneering at the time. In spite of her struggles, she married and had two children. She was known in her community as a kind, gentle, spiritual person who loved her family, children, painting and gardening. Her poetry and art reflects the depth of her sensitivities to life, death, love, and nature and through them she continues to be an inspiration to all that have known her.