Poems to Lift You Up and Make You Smile
100 poems from (Your Daily Poem) YDP
compiled by Jayne Jaudon Ferrer
Parson's Porch Books, 2021

Leaves of Peace
edited by Jan Chronister, June 2020

Nick Virgilio Writers House Anthology, Vol 2
Haiku in Action, 2020

Distilled Lives
volume, 3, 4, 5, 6
Illinois State Poetry Society
various editors, 2016-20

Poetry East, fall, 2020
100 poems
40th anniversary of the journal
and its 100th issues
with editor Richard Jones

Creative Wisconsin Anthology
2019 Jade Ring winners
Wisconsin Writers Association
published by Publishers Graphics

A Migration Anthology
From Everywhere a Little
edited by Dawn Hogue and Lisa Vihos
Water's Edge Press, 2019

A Poetry Anthology in Celebration
of Walt Whitman Bicentennial
Poets to Come
edited by James Wagner
Local Gems Press, 2019

Love Affairs at the Villa Nelle
Villanelle Poetic Form
edited by Marilyn Taylor & James Roberts
Kelsay Books, 2018

Van Gogh Dreams Anthology
compiled by Lisa Vihos
Henschel Haus Publishing, 2018

Coffee, Tea & Other Beverages
Highland Park Poetry Publication
edited by Jennifer Dotson, 2018

Journal of Modern Poetry 20
The Poetry Writer's Guide to the Galaxy
edited by CJ Laity
Chicago Poetry Press, Chicago Il, 2017

Creative Wisconsin Literary Journal
Wisconsin Writers Association Press, 2016

Journal of Modern Poetry 18
The Official Poets Guide to Peace
edited by CJ Laity
Chicago Poetry Press, Chicago Il, 2015

The White Space, selected poems
edited by Gail Comorat and Ethan Joella
JoCor Press, 2015

An Ariel Anthology, transformational poetry and art
Ariel Woods Books, 2015

Prey Tell
An anthology of poems about Birds of Prey
Published by Owl Moon Raptor Center
edited by Julie A. Dickson 201

Anthologies on the Hungry and the Homeless

Empty Shoes
selected and edited by Patrick T. Randolph 2009

Weatherings
Future Cycle Press, 2015
Co-edited by David Chorlton and Robert S. King

Good Works Review
Future Cycle Press, 2018
edited by Robert K. King

Bards Against Hunger
5th Anniversary Edition
An Anthology of national and International Poets
Editor: James P. Wagner

Bards Against Hunger
An Anthology of Wisconsin Poets
Editor: James P. Wagner

Haiku, Haibun Anthologies

The Red Moon Anthology
of English-Language Haiku
edited by Jim Kacian &
Red Moon Editorial Staff, 2018

The Red Moon Anthology
Of English-Language Haiku

red river
book of haibun, Vol. 1
edited by Steve Hodge and Presh Tiwari

Contemporary Haibun
Volume 16
Rich Youmans, editor in chief
Red Moon Press, 2021

Blossom Moon
Waukesha Haiku Group
Modern Haiku Press
edited by Lee Gurga & Kelly Sauvage, 2020

Burnt Diary
Memoir in Haibun and Tanka Prose
edited by Lori A Minor, 2022, moth orchid press

Robert Epstein Anthologies
Edited by Robert Epstein

They Gave us Life: Celebrating
Mothers, Fathers, and others in haiku
Middle Island Press, 2017

All the Way Home: Aging in Haiku
Middle Island Press, 2019

The Helping Hand Haiku Anthology
Middle Island Press, 2020

Haiku Society of America-HSA
2014-2021—different editors

Human/Kind Journal
Flash/haibun/etc.
Online

Publications

Still, published in 2018 by FutureCycle Press
The word, "still," like life itself, is pregnant with possibility. On one end of the spectrum, it is the ultimate stillness of death; on the other, it is generational: still, life continues. The word "still" became for the author a synonym for the journey, with all of us riding in separate boats while traveling through the same body of water. In these poems we can acknowledge hard truths, the struggle that comes with change, knowing we are not alone. We can find solace and joy in nature, see how art and music can move us beyond ourselves, and be comforted by how we are all inextricably entwined. Along with disappointments, loss, and the unexpected, there is still love and abundance, choice, and room for praise.

Trigger Warning: Poetry Saved My Life anthology edited by Zachary Kluckman, "Why Poetry Matters" essay on page 94 (PDF).

Best Brothers, published in 2014 by Tiger's Eye Press

"In Balistreri's skillful hands, 'something shifts' without us knowing how or when, and tragedy not only takes on "a livable shape," but becomes larger, more mysterious and more beautiful than itself, as sudden and transcendent as a song."
--Danielle Blau, Mere Eye, contest winner, Poetry Society of America

"Mary Jo Balistreri's Best Brothers: an unflinching and brave love letter written from the American/Door County heartland, a balance of grief and hope, a collection full of joy and heartbreak for anyone who has ever been a grandparent, cherished a child or lost a child. These boys, Sam and Zach, shine brightly in the affectionate and powerful poems written by their grandmother."
--Cheryl A. Loetscher, Paralegal

Gathering the Harvest, published in 2012 by Bellowing Ark Press - $18.00 + $2 for shipping
All proceeds will go to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Gathering the Harvest is both a beautiful elegy and a quiet celebration--an elegy for a world either lost or never fully realized, but celebration too, of all that remains, survives and flourishes. - Maribeth Fischer, author of The Language of Good-Bye, The Life You Longed For

Order by contacting Jo directly.

Ed Bennett has reviewed Mary Jo Balistreri's Gathering the Harvest. The review can be read in its entirety here!

Tiger's Eye Press has also reviewed Gathering the Harvest! Check out that review here!

Verse Wisconsin has another review here.

Listen to an interview with Mary Jo on WUWM: http://wuwm.com/post/after-loss-grandsons-wisconsin-musician-turns-poetry

Readings and videos of Mary Jo's poems can be found via The Poetry Storehouse.

Joy in the Morning, published in 2008 by Bellowing Ark Press - $14.00
Joy in the Morning is a compelling collection of poetry about family, nature, simple moments, special moments, and all the memorable minutia that is life. Mary Jo's titles offer insight into the scenes painted by her words: "Spring Comes to Saylesville Pond," "At a Jazz Bar in Denver with My Son and His Friends," "Saturday Baking at Gramma's," "The Christmas Recital." This is a fine gift for anyone who enjoys holding memories close. - Jayne Jaudon Ferrer

All proceeds from the sale of this book go to mitochondrial disease research and/or to families whose children have mitochondrial disease, to help defray their treatment expenses.  Order by contacting Jo directly.

Acorn
Akitso
Avocet
Bear Creek Review
Bellowing Ark
Blue Heron
Bottle Rockets
Bramble--Literary Journal of Wisconsin Poets Association
The Centrifugal Eye
Cho Online--Haibun
Chuffed Buff Books
Communion
Contemporary Haibun online
Controlled Burn
Crab Creek Review - The Poetry Issue
Cradle Songs: An Anthology of Poems on Motherhood
Current - a journal of experimental poetry published by the Bellowing Ark Society
Earth's Daughters
Echoes
Echoes Anthology
Ekprhastic Review
Empty Shoes: Poems on the Hungry and the Homeless
Failed Haiku
Five Willows Literary Review
Florida State Poets' Anthology
Flutter
Free Lunch
Free Verse
Frogpond
Goose River Anthology
Grand Piano Passion
Grist
Hedgerow
HighCoupe
Hummingbird
Hurricane Press
Illinois Poetry Anthology
Journal of Modern Poetry (an anthology) published by Chicago Poetry.com Press
Kentucky Review
The Mobius Anniversary Issue

Milwaukee Art Museum
Minerva Rising
Modern Haiku
Mom Egg Review
One Hundred Gourds
Passager - The Poetry Issue
Peninsula Pulse
The Poetry Box
Poetry Pacific
Poppy Road Review
Prune Juice
Quilt and Parchment
The Raptor Anthology
Re-Cycle Press
Re/verse
Ruminate
San Pedro River Review
Siftings
Snapdragon
Spindrift
Tall Grass Writers Guild
The Examined Life
The Healing Muse
The Herons Nest
The Homestead Review
The Muse - Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets
Thomas Merton Epiphany Book
Tiny Words
Tiger's Eye Journal
Toward the Light
Verse Wisconsin
VerseWrights
Whistling Skin Anthology - Why Poetry Matters
Whispers
Windhover
Wisconsin Poets' Calendar
White Pelican Review
Windy Hill Review
Yale Journal of Humanities, Medicine
Your Daily Poem