An Olio of Poems - Softcover

Donato, Christina J; Walton, Ralph A

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1737086158 ISBN 13: 9781737086154

Publisher: Left-Handed Author Publishing, 2025

Synopsis

In short, this eclectic poetic memoir traverses the vast spectrum of human emotion, blending whimsical verses with profound darkness to reveal the soul of its creator through rhythm, shape, and truth. There is something for everyone.
 
Life doesn't stay in one lane, and neither does this collection. An Olio of Poems moves through sixty-two poems written across a lifetime, dogs and dinner tables, faith and heartbreak, quiet humor and dark honesty, and finds truth in all of it.
 
Organized into nine sections, from playful looks at pets and everyday joys to raw reflections on depression, Christian faith, and the passage of time, this collection meets readers wherever they are. Each section closes with the author's own reflection on what inspired the poems within it.
 
A closing section, Poems I Didn't Write, welcomes her husband Ralph Walton's poetry into the collection, a quiet testament to shared spirit.
 
There is something here for the reader who wants comfort, the one who wants honesty, and everyone in between."

About this title

About the Author

Christina J. Donato is an author with a background in creative writing, political science, and sociology. Raised on Long Island, New York, she later relocated to New England, where she built a career as a mainframe programmer.
 
Now based in Rhode Island, she shares her home with her husband and their dog, Nera.  Ms. Donato enjoys word puzzles, black-and-white movies, anything Beatles-related, being active in her church, practicing the frame drum, and hosting doggy playdates with Nera.  
 
Her deep appreciation for poetry and storytelling comes together in her writing, where she highlights meaningful, real-life experiences with warmth and authenticity.

From the Back Cover

REVIEW EXCERPTS: *
Oh my! I am only in the first dog section but I am so impressed by your way with words! I love love "Never Believe a Puppy." So so so true lol!! My puppy fits this to a tee! I never should have believed him.— Kathie G.

This one felt like a poetry book that feels like a potluck dinner where everyone brought their quirkiest, most heartfelt dish.— Christian C.

As the title suggests, the projects and ambitions of the collection are various and many. The end result is something of a lovely collage. It is enjoyable and smart, certainly. An Olio of Poems is an impressive showing of deeply affecting verse by two writers operating with impressive creative energies. — Stephen D.

"An Olio of Poems" is a beautifully layered and deeply human collection that captures the full spectrum of emotion from humor and love to faith, reflection, and melancholy. Its poetic voice shines with honesty and versatility, and the organization of the book into themed sections offers readers a rare blend of structure and spontaneity. It feels less like a poetry collection and more like a lifelong diary of the heart, a mirror of lived experience, crafted with authenticity and grace. Readers who appreciate poetry that is both personal and universal will find "An Olio of Poems" deeply moving. — Mandy R.

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Edition details

• Publisher: Left-Handed Author Publishing
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1737086158
• ISBN 13: 9781737086154
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 142
• Editor: Donato Christina J