Poet Profile

Ellen Grace Olinger

Ellen Grace Olinger earned the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D) at Northern Illinois University in 1987. She then served on the special education faculty and helped train teachers at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, where she earned tenure in 1993. She had the privilege of helping with her mother’s care for many years. Ellen's dedication to education was inspired by her family and books. Her parents, Harold and Enola Borgh, were teachers; and her great-aunt, Marie Schwanke, was a pioneer in special education. With Jim Kacian as editor, and the many excellent resources at The Haiku Foundation, Ellen helped begin The Haiku Foundation Education Resources feature (see Lesson Plans in the Features menu). She wishes to also thank Dave Russo and Billie Wilson for their support, as well as the many poets and teachers who continue to make the education work better.

Books Published: And So My Soul (Elin Grace Publishing, 2001); Quiet Christmas Poetry (Elin Grace Publishing, 2014).

seasons repeat
we tell the stories
we are given

Holy Week
lily flowers
wait to bloom

Wisconsin spring
sandhill cranes
in a field of snow

January thaw . . .
letting go
of old heartaches

morning prayer
water birds flying north
stay close to water

old photos
on my desk--
bleeding hearts in bloom

Credits: "seasons repeat" - Mayfly 58 (2015) [Randy & Shirley Brooks, Editors]; "Wisconsin spring" - this world (Haiku Society of America 2013 Members’ Anthology) [Carolyn Coit Dancy, Editor]; "morning prayer" - Take-out Window (Haiku Society of America 2014 Members’ Anthology) [Gary Hotham, Editor]; "Holy Week" - Time Of Singing 41 (Spring 2014) [Lora Homan Zill, Editor]; "January thaw" - A Splash of Water: Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2015 [Catherine J.S. Lee, Editor]; "old photos" - Time Of Singing 21 (1994).