About Me

These are bits of prose that I write on the steering wheel of my Honda Fit…but only at red lights. They are all part of three works in progress:  “Accident-Related Works,””Love Poems For Someone I Have Never Loved,” and “He 4 She.”  I have also included postcard poems written for the “Postcard Poetry Fest”.   These are “of the moment” poems written to 31 people over the month of August in a postcard exchange (2014, 2015).

Please leave either cashmere comments or brutal bashings.  I’ll promptly ignore them.  Thanks for looking at the site and honk the horn if you’re behind me and the light turns green.

On a personal note:    I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago.  In my 30’s, I moved to upstate New York.  No one, including me, knows why.  I live in converse sneakers, drink sake and cheap red wine, and never sing in the shower, not even upon request.  Life includes a hairy dog named Ditto in an 1850’s house in an eclectic little neighborhood.  I value my unique friends to death.  Life could not get any better, unless, of course, the Cubs win the World Series.

14 thoughts on “About Me”

    1. Hi, Donna—

      Your writing is even more fab than I remembered! What an incredible talent you have.

      Here’s to the written word and her devoted handmaidens. You do her proud.

      Best,
      Bonnie Logan

      Reply

  3. You are truly a talented person… unique and special are just a few words I can think of… and don’t forget the Colonie police along with Schenectady and Glenville I am sure know who you are!!! A wonderful friend and lucky to have me or I should say you in my life.
    Downtown Julie Brown

    My head is bobbin… to mega babe! Love it all

    Reply

    1. Hmmmmmm….But seriously. Thanks for the kind words of appreciate and for reading some of my stuff, even the crap. I can’t ever seem to get rid of the police. Did you enjoy your photo on Chachaware? Look at the bulletin board on the Fun Page. Oh, and as far as the compliments, right back atcha…you know I don’t do those well.

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  4. Donna, I do miss you coming to work ready to read me something new you just wrote. glad you have this site for me to go to. You are a walking thesaurus. I do enjoy reading your work. hope all is well with you.
    Hugs,Eileen

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    1. Why, thank you, Eileen. I miss you very much at Hellmark. Now I will have no Xmas register buddy. So sad. Trust you like your new job. Stay in touch…and thanks for reading my stuff.

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    1. Awww, thanks, Loretta. And thank you so much for letting me know that the poem arrived. The postcards were a weird size and heft so I put extra postage on them but I was worried that perhaps they weren’t making it! Elizabeth Woods from Australia should eventually be getting you your second moon poem. She and I met in our first ever Postcard Poetry Fest about 7 years ago and have become good internet friends since. Hopefully, you will make virtual word friends also. You can certainly include me! I will certainly let you know when I receive your works as I am looking forward to your poem and card. Thanks again for contacting me.

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    2. Thanks so much, Loretta. I am glad that particular piece went to just the right person. And thanks to you for the postcard in return. Well done!

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  6. I am a fortunate recipient on your list of 31 in the 2026 postcard fest. Just received your “Private Women” postcard today. LOVED it! I’m not a “real” poet, but you are!! I just do it for fun. Hope you’re on my list next year! Jan

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Jan. I have to disagree with you, though. I absolutely loved the poem you sent to me about “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and standing out. The simplicity of your word choice, humor in the context, and question at the end made it one of the favorite poems I have received so far! I have been doing Postcard Poetry Fest for over ten years now. Everyone used to be on FB and we were able to contact each other. That is how I became internet friends with Elizabeth Woods (from Austrailia) who is also on our list. We have collaborated several times with a joint topic challenge and then create a chapbook out of our postcards. Woods is very much into medication and yoga(completely the opposite of me) and has always been desperate to do a project on that. We each chose a character – hers is a female in search of self and mine is a male who has insight thrust upon him. I chose Bob The Apostle (random, I know) and had him find a word every day at the same time in order to come up with The Gospel According to Bob The Apostle and his views of life. Since you contacted me and were so kind to visit my site, I will send you a small chapbook I create later on with all 30 of Bob’s words/insights. Perhaps one day you and I might collaborate! All us veteran poets also send out “bonus postcards” to people we have met along the way and want to keep in our connection. I will make you one of my bonus people the next time, unless of course, we are in the same group again. Keep writing as I like the voice you have going for you. It is a great style!

      Reply

      1. Thank you so much for YOUR kind words Donna. I am truly touched. I’m also embarrassed to admit that there are a few postcards I forgot to take pictures of before I mailed them, so I don’t remember what I wrote LOL! If it’s not too much trouble and you still have my card, perhaps you could take a picture of front and back and email it to me privately. Most cards I receive are very “deep and serious”, and I always write funny and rhyming cards (which I always consider so much easier to do).  So your words were very encouraging.   Thank you again. Looking forward to your card next year. Jan

        Jan Firstenberg646-671-1524www.janfirstenberg.com

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