Copyright, Veronica Michalowski
November 7, 2016
Written about her father, Peter Paul Michalowski
July 24, 1917 – November 26, 2000
Photo taken in the yard of his mother’s home,
Oxford, New Jersey, c.1942, age 25
GIVERS
New Jersey mountain so huge
it’s named Montana.
He knows it well—
with his brothers,
spends his youth here
exploring, playing.
Hemlock, oak, dogwood,
birch, what’s left of chestnut.
Drinks from natural springs
hikes endless trails
of this feral cathedral.
Mindful of hunting seasons
when fauna are vulnerable,
Montana equips him for work
in the CCC camps,
a lifetime of skills.
He is at home here;
mountain gives
he learns
entrusts lessons
to his children.
Today, no birds sing
deer are still
wild turkey mute
as wet tread
on the wheels of the hearse
slowly rides the familiar road,
it gathers DNA—soil, seeds,
spores, end-of-autumn leaves—
to place at his gravesite.
KEITH
you left us today
soared to another
dimension
free to be you
to explore
heavens, universes
touch the face
of God
to fly
visit those you know
who left a while ago
we may not meet
for some time—
we will be here
on our own sunbeam
this little blue dot of Earth
the only home
we’ve ever known—
thinking of you
the love you gave
to your wife, children
family, friends
we miss you
stay close
rest in paradise
don’t forget us
Keith Allen Doncheski, Senior
October 12, 1966—April 26, 2017
Copyright, Veronica Michalowski, written May 4, 2017
Reference: Carl Sagan’s PALE BLUE DOT
A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, I received my B.A. and M.A. in Fine Arts, Design and Photography.
My career focused in the fields of ideation, branding, marketing, merchandising, packaging and display design, having created for such firms as Microsoft, Epson, Canon USA, Neutrogena, Crayola, Calaway Golf, Geoffrey Beane, Sunkist, Mattel, as well as many California wineries. I have built and worked with outstanding design teams and received both national and international recognition, many awards and acclaim for exceptional design, including two CLIOs.
Interspersed with this creative work has been a contribution to the educational field, having taught fine arts at California State University, Fullerton as well as Riverside City College, Mount San Antonio College, Laguna College of Art and Design.
I continue to design and paint, travel, read everything and write often, especially poetry, do crossword puzzles daily, love to cook, savor fine wine, collect fine art and antiques.