The poems in Almost Spring were written from 1992 to 1998 and show Ball's ongoing engagement with nature, with visual and aural perception, and with language.
"Imagistic and minimalist, a kind of literary Donald Judd, Ball sculpts language, leaving common denominators reverberating with multiple meanings."? Karl Jirgens, mondo hunkamooga
"Ball's writing is less about making ‘art’ than it is about recreating a familiar, heightened state of attention."? Kevin Connolly, eye

Nelson Ball is a poet and bookseller living in Paris, Ontario, who has been writing since the early 1960s. He has worked as a labourer, chauffeur, clerk, seasonal forest ranger, record store clerk, and janitor. From 1965 to 1973 he ran the legendary Weed/Flower Press, publishing mimeo editions of early books by Victor Coleman, Carol Bergé, David McFadden, bill bissett, bpNichol, and many others. Nelson is the author of more than 30 poetry books and chapbooks. He and his late wife, the artist Barbara Caruso, are the subject of Catherine Stevenson's 2014 documentary film Nelson Ball & Barbara Caruso / Home Project / A Photo Documentary.

Nelson Ball's profile page