Finnish American poets, Peggy Trojan and Donna Salli will read and share their poetry, and Doreen Salli will moderate.

Three Finnish American women share their poetry and talk about their shared experiences. They all grew up along US 2 and left: Donna to Brainerd, Minnesota, Doreen to St. Louis, MO, and Peggy to Eau Claire, WI. The sisters, Doreen and Donna, have had careers in higher education writing and teaching. Peggy, in contrast, began to write only after she retired and returned to Northern Wisconsin. They are all published poets. Their poetry will open windows into the worlds of 21st Century Finnish American experience.

PRESENTER

Donna Salli writes poetry, fiction, drama, and essays, and spent her working life teaching college English and creative writing. Her Finnish-immigrant grandparents established farms where US 2 crosses from the UP into Wisconsin. Donna roamed what seemed magical woods at those farms, along with her sister Doreen. No surprise, she thinks, that they both grew up to be writers.
Peggy Trojan published her first poem at 77. Now 92, she has published 8 chapbooks and 2 full collections. She lives on 70 acres in Brule, WI, a mile north of US 2.Doreen Salli earned her MFA in Poetry Writing at Washington University in St. Louis and spent her career as a writing teacher and administrator there. Three years ago her fondest dream came true when she was able to buy back her maternal grandparents’ farm just off US 2 in Wakefield, Michigan. She’s looking forward to many saunas there in her retirement, and many visits from her sister Donna and other members of her big Finnish family.