By Brittany Fleetwood
Poetry on Brick Street had the pleasure of having Donna Monday, a published poet, guest speak at their open mic poetry reading Dec. 4. After sharing many of her treasured works, other poets were given the opportunity to do the same. The event was free and open to the public at SullivanMunce Culteral Center in downtown Zionsville.
All Donna Monday ever wanted to do is write with all of her heart, and she did. Since the age of 12, she has been writing poetry after one of her poems was published in her local newspaper, the Greenfield Reporter. Her father, also a writer, carried that published piece in his wallet for decades.
Today, Monday has achieved many other accomplishments in literature after finding her niche and passion in writing and reading children’s poetry. She authored Dancing in the Alley, a collection of her poetry published by Author House in 2011. She once edited for the Times Sentinal, a local Zionsville newspaper, in addition to writing the news, obituaries, sports and other features. Her most prized and popular work was having a humor column she titled “Monday Madness” in the newspaper.
“I like humor,” she says, “It’s probably my forte. I like to see things that tickle my fancy.”
Though poetry has been her life passion, Monday has also been a fifth-grade teacher and an award-winning automobile saleswoman for Pearson Ford. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College, as well as graduate work from Butler University and Indiana Wesleyan. After twenty-two years at the dealership, she recently retired and now writes a column for the Current and attends poetry readings, sticking to her roots as a writer. When she isn’t writing, she takes pride in spending time with her two children and six wonderful grandchildren.
When asked what words of advice she can pass onto other poets, she said, “Keep writing. Frankly, it sounds easy but it’s not. Just keep writing no matter what.”
Poetry on Brick Street meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Monday encourages poets and non-poets to attend its’ open mic night.
“There are so many amazing poets here in town that should be heard,” she says.
