Many of Kinsolving’s poems relate to science. Her first book focused on horticulture and floral metaphor. The poems in another book examined aphasia and dementia’s linguistic enigma. Her most recent book, Peripheral Vision, features a series of poems regarding prosthetic eyes, the history of glass eyes, and the science of acrylic eyes, as well as the perspectives of some people who wear them.
Poetry goes well beyond propaganda or platitudes, Kinsolving points out. “Through inspiring and surprising language, poetry reveals truth, emotion, and mystery. Poetry can protest injustice. Poetry can give voice to life’s profound events: love or grief. Poetry can also express the elusive moments of human existence.”