Illinois State Poetry Society
Description: Mary Jo Balistreri began writing poetry as a way to cope with the pain of losing her two grandsons to mitochondrial disease. Today, the former concert pianist and harpsichordist is an award-winning poet who shares her message of hope through the healing power of words.
throat cancer (11) mitochondrial disease (6) concert pianists (2) mary jo balistreri (1) harpsichordists (1) pushcart nominees (1) bellowing ark press (1) grace river poets (1) university of pennsylvania alumni (1) wisconsin fellowship of poets (1)
Mary Jo Balistreri Mary Jo grew up in Minnesota and Wisconsin where her playgrounds were woods, lakes, and meadows. Strawberries grew wild, and pussy willows graced the springtime landscape. She began a life-long love of nature, music, and art. Her father was a tenor, her mother a watercolorist, and both grandparents were classical musicians. Family inspired and helped shape Mary Jo’s interests, talents and her first book, Joy in the Morning . A musician as well as a writer, Mary Jo's first career was as
Illinois State Poetry Society