Author and poet Shirley Grier, who grew up in the Nisqually Valley and spent her early years in Yelm, is sharing her reflections on small-town life through her poetry books: “Uncaged” and “Dust on the Sundial,” according to a recent news release.
“Uncaged” was published in December 2025. “Dust on the Sundial” was published a few months prior.
Though she now lives in Utah, Grier’s writing is deeply rooted in the places and experiences that shaped her childhood. Her poems return to a time when neighbors knew each other, kids rode bikes until dark, and ordinary days quietly became lifelong memories, the release stated.
