An Olio of Poems

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."

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.