My senses numb
as blistering rays
seep through my skin
cold as ice
stinging my heart.
In limbo I reside
where tears
are my comfort
releasing the pain
like brilliant stars
lighting the darkness.
Joanne Olivieri is a gifted poet who was born, raised in and currently resides in San Francisco, California.
At age ten, her mother bought Joanne her first book of poetry called Speak Nature by James Walker,
which was a series of nature poems in traditional rhyme and meter. She fell in love with poetry
after reading this book and took it everywhere with her. She remembers sitting in a civics class
in the 7th grade, bored to tears, when she penned her first poem entitled "One." She's been writing ever since.
With no formal training as a writer, other than a creative writing class in high school,
Joanne learned her craft the old fashioned way, by reading. She applauds Longfellow, Poe, Byron,
Marlowe, Keats, Plath, and Angelou as a few of her many favorites. In her newly released chapbook,
Red Lanterns, published by Shadows Ink Publications she writes a modern day free verse tribute to
Longfellow's poem "The Day Is Done."
After an impromptu vacation in Hong Kong visiting her friend jazz recording artist Sony Holland,
for whom Joanne works as a personal assistant, she returned back home completely inspired by her journey,
and as she puts it, "the creative flow was definitely flowing for over two months. I simply could not stop
writing." The result? Red Lanterns was born. Joanne derives her inspiration from nature, music, cultural
diversity, and anything that profoundly touches her spirit. Joanne's second chapbook of poetry, "Serenity,"
speaks with the mind, the body and the spirit in a reflective journey to authentic self. A coming
into your own realization of purpose and passion, this book offers a compilation of poetry and
stories shared with serene mind and peaceful spirit. Serenity debuted in March 2007.
Joanne’s passion for poetry prompted her, in memory of her mother, to create Ya'Sou! Ezine as a showcase for
poets, writers, photographers and artists to display their work and find a home for their creative talents.
Ya’Sou! is from the Greek language meaning "To Yours," and is used as a toast to celebrate special occasions.
As Joanne explains, "Ya’Sou! is my way of giving back to the community, doing what I love to do and paying
tribute to my Greek heritage and to my Mom who always encouraged my writing."
Joanne has been writing for over 30 years. Her poetry has been published in various print and online
publications, such as The San Diego Arts and Poets Magazine, Shadows Ink Chapbooks,
SP Quill Magazine, SoMa Literary Review, Things Asian Online Travel Website, Muses Review, and many more.
Her photography and article, French Fries and Ice Cream were published in Tango Diva - June 2005.
Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies. Joanne was the Featured Poet for January 2006 in SP Quill
Magazine and appeared as Featured Author on the Shadow Poetry Bookstore page for January through March 2006.
Her book Red Lanterns appeared on the Shadow Poetry Top Ten Bestseller List for the period January through
April 2006 and November 2006 through January 2007. Both of Joanne's books Red Lanterns and Serenity were in the top 10
bestseller list on the Shadow Poetry site for the period of April through June 2007.
Joanne's YouTube Videos Ocean Beach San Francisco, View From Cliff House Of Ocean Beach San Francisco
and Cliffs @ Ocean Beach, San Francisco have been selected for inclusion in the First Annual California
Coastal Views Film Festival, hosted by Coastwalk.
Joanne is a member of The Online International Library of Contemporary Poets and The World Poets Society.
Joanne wrote a regular monthly feature column titled "My Ode" for RainTiger Magazine. Her travel articles
and tips have been chosen for inclusion in the VirtualTourist's soon to be released San Francisco Travel Guide.
Her poem "salt and pepper" was published on celebrity Leeza Gibbon's website in April 2007. Joanne's poem
"Symphony Of Lights" from her chapbook Red Lanterns was chosen as one of the 300 Short Listed Entries in the
initial round of the Cathay Pacific Airways - 100 Reasons We Love Hong Kong contest for July 2007.
As a result, Joanne was awarded a roundtrip ticket to HK for her winning entry. She took her second
trip to Hong Kong in March 2008, and is currently working on new poetry, inspired by her travels.
Click below to view Joanne's Shadow Poetry Page
and order her best-selling books:
Enjoy a slideshow of photographs from Joanne's recent Hong Kong trip:
