DONNA MARIE GRAY

POETRY, SHORT STORIES, HUMOR

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORKS:

ANTHOLOGIES:

- American Poetry Anthology - July 1987
- Many Voices, Many Lands - Summer 1987
- Great American Poetry Anthology - 1988

- (Anthology due out in Summer 2006):
The Best Poems and Poets of 2005 -
International Library of Poetry

BOOK PUBLISHED by Publish America - October 2005
BACK TO THE BASICS (A "How-To" Book on Raising Baby With Common Sense) - by Donna Marie Gray

AC PRODUCER - - - - - - HELIUM - - - - - - GATHER

- Poetry
- Humorous Stories
- Articles

REVIEW THE AUTHOR'S BOOK, "BACK TO THE BASICS... (A "How-To" Book on Raising Baby With Common Sense)" at PublishAmerica.com, Barnes & Noble.com and amazon.com.

Donna is a New Englander by birth, born and raised in Weymouth, MA. She has lived in Virginia Beach, VA since the late 1970's. Donna is a lung cancer survivor which became the driving force in her pursuit of a writing career.

Donna has been published in several anthologies, won awards in various contests, and belongs to several on-line writer’s groups to which she frequently contributes. She recently expanded her writing to include children’s stories and draws on her experience as a mother and a grandmother. Her first book was published by Publish America titled BACK TO THE BASICS... (A “How-to” Book on Raising Baby With Common Sense).

An avid writer since childhood, Donna has amassed a wealth of poetry from which these poems were selected. She has been invited to participate as a contributor to the "Christmas in Virginia - 2007" festival in Williamsburg, VA. When not writing, Donna enjoys family gatherings, swimming and has a passion for horses which runs a close second to her love of writing. She is a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Laureate Beta Nu Chapter, and has recently become a Red Hatter with the Va. Beach Darlin’ Divas.

SYNOPSIS OF: BACK TO THE BASICS... (A "How-To" Book on Raising Baby With Common Sense)

A step-by-step book for new parents beginning with bringing baby home for the first time and following their progress throughout the toddler stage. It is based on the tried and true method of using one’s common sense.

The newer methods for raising children seem to be based on espousing the abdication of parental authority over our children. It appears this method has succeeded in turning out self-centered, “I-me-my” children who demand instant gratification at every turn.

There is a touch of humor and a few antidotes throughout the book to encourage those parents who are way too up-tight to realize they are taking themselves too seriously. Granted, it is very serious business raising children, but love, consistency, common sense and stability are the things of which life is made. They are the things that will bring the greatest reward to parents who are less concerned with damaging the child’s psyche than obtaining the end result of a well adjusted child who is socially adept and is able to accept responsibility for his actions. This is the child who will not experience separation anxiety.

There are suggested methods for maintaining a stress free atmosphere for your baby. The skills are listed in sequence and progress toward reaching age appropriate milestones in the child’s life. Each step brings its own reward to the parent ensuring the outcome of a happy and well adjusted child.

COSMIC SPIRIT
By Donna M. Gray

You are with us in spirit;
Your smile is in the warmth
Of the sunshine
Your touch is in the gentleness
Of a summer breeze
And we know there is eternal life,
For it surrounds us in so many ways.

HAIKU

Never far
Forever near
Beloved spirits linger

Madness...
Lost in the depths
Of black despair

Laugh so hard
Bring tears of joy
Confuse those watching

Christmas in Virginia - Christmas Blessing

A Christmas Blessing
by Donna Marie Gray

To all the good people who pass through this door,
You brighten my day and I couldn’t ask more;
With sincerest best wishes and heartfelt good cheer,
Merry Christmas to all and a spectacular year!

A MATTER OF TIME

Did you ever seriously consider time and how it is viewed so differently from person to person?

For instance, some people seem to be preoccupied with wasting time, while others are hell-bent on not wasting one moment of time.

I personally choose to use my time in various ways which will be advantageous to me. There are so many things that need to be accomplished in my time frame that I cannot afford to waste a lot of time. My responsibilities include a job, a home, a husband and family. Much of my time is predetermined for me.

But, some might say that I do, indeed, waste a lot of time. Fearing this might be true, I itemized all of the things in my time frame and came to a startling conclusion.

By some standards, perhaps I am wasting time. I admit to enjoying languishing in a hot bath now and then instead of the quick in-and-out showers usually taken. I enjoy a leisurely dinner with friends having light conversation. I do look forward to sitting by the fire on a cold night reading a book or listening to good music. And last, but not least, I shamelessly take a great deal of pleasure, after having accomplished everything important in my predetermined time frame, to just sit back, let my mind wander aimlessly, and simply enjoy wasting some time!

I’m not one of those super-efficient perfectionists. Although I do take pride in doing things well, I don’t even dream of perfection. After all, I seem to be surrounded by perfectionists who sit around wasting their time just trying to figure out the perfect method for accomplishing their chores. And, since no one is perfect (except God) they waste all that time accomplishing absolutely nothing.

There are lots of sayings about time; “time waits for no man”, “don’t waste your time”, “time is money”, “time spent is money earned”; etc. Really, now… one would get the impression that time is more important than life itself! The fact is, without life, what does time matter?

Well, as for me, I’m having the “time of my life”. While you are perhaps carefully mulling over the best way to get your stuff done by utilizing your time to its best advantage, I have done all that is required of me and am now relaxing with a hot cup of coffee… wondering when you are going to get started!

Yes, indeed! This is a startling revelation!

I RULE
By Donna M. Gray

In my world,
A place where I am Princess,
My Subjects are but few;

They are not viewed as less than,
Nor are they placed on pedestals;
They are simply there;

In my world,
The rules are not engraved in stone,
They are few and to the point;

One may laugh as well as cry,
Yet never judging where or why;
One merely tries to understand.

In my world,
Tho I am Princess of my realm,
Dictatorship does not exist;

We laugh at self-importance
And challenge all who would
Aspire to control

I DREAMED I WAS A STANDUP COMIC

I eased my way up to the mike and greeted my audience with a shy smile. Trying to muster some confidence I managed to mutter, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen...Thank you for coming."

That didn't exactly bring down the house. I thought I was prepared, so I launched into a little story about my husband. I told the audience that my husband was a God send.... because God sent him to me so I would know hell on earth!

My husband is a well known local figure. Everybody has a story about "The Grayman". On one occasion we were out with a group of friends and people were recalling tales involving my husband from decades ago. The stories were outrageous! One of our friends asked, "Donna, what are you ever going to do with that man?" Without skipping a beat I said, "I'm going to have to kill him. He has outlived any useful purpose he might ever have had on this earth, and so I am simply going to kill him!"

But we have a mutual thing going here between my husband and me. After the devastating surgery and coma I managed to survive, we were talking with friends and relatives one afternoon. I was still in that state of mind, or disorientation if you will, thus, my conversations were somewhat disjointed. Suddenly, my husband looked heavenward and whispered, "Lord, next time, please don't listen to me!" Oh, yes....life with "The Grayman" has been a challenge!

We first met when I was 16 years old. He left to go away to college and broke my heart. Many years later, after each of us had been in a failed marriage, and both had children, we somehow got back together. Now I tell him that the reason I married him was because he had broken my heart when I was very young. I decided to become his worst nightmare. I strongly believe in retribution, and that is why we are still married to this day.

During the course of our married life our combined family has grown and we now have grandchildren. I like to mess with their heads on occasion. One day while taking care of our grandson who was about 6 at the time, I had to give him a “time out”. I made him sit at the kitchen table while I did some chores. Finally he asked in a bored voice, “Grandma, can I get down from the table now?” I looked at him and said, “No, Silly, you can only get down from a duck!”

My favorite thing is teaching the grandchildren things from when I was a little girl. Two of the grandchildren were staying with us for a weekend. They were 6 and 7 years old. We had spaghetti for supper one night and it occurred to me that they might enjoy learning a little trick I use to do when I was their age. I showed them how to take a long strand of spaghetti, put it in their mouth and hold onto the end and swallow. Then they could pull it back out! They thought this was really cool! Of course, I knew their parents were not going to be happy about it, but then I thought, when they say, “Grandma taught us,” their parents were certainly not going to believe it!

That's all folks! Come back again.........

A HOLIDAY BLESSING
By Donna Marie Gray

As we gather together
On this holiday
We take these few moments
To humbly pray;
To ask for your blessing,
Give thanks from our hearts,
For this bountiful feast
In which we take part.
Bless all of our loved ones
Who cannot be here,
All family and friendships,
We bid them good cheer;
Bless all of us gathered
To share once again,
We thank you, dear Lord,
Now we’re ready... Amen

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