Leisner was pleased to use poems by Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Oliver in his new cycle West Wind, taking its name from one of Oliver's collections. “In recent years, diatonic and chromatic harmonic approaches have merged in my work, mixing in a way that might have seemed confusing before, but feels perfectly natural to me now. These songs are written in this language.” A master guitarist himself, Leisner puts special emphasis on the guitar part, elevating the instrument above the usual role of accompaniment. West Wind includes Come with me; Row for your life; Dark is as dark does; Wild needle; Night birds; and West Wind.