Writing poetry never occurred to Jo until she was 80 years old. Her friend Donald E. Axinn, celebrated poet, showed her a photo he had taken on his farm in Vermont.  It was a magical scene, she recalls.  An old gate with peeling whitewash almost hidden by overgrown vines enticed one to come in and discover what lay beyond.  “This photo is asking for poetic outlet.  Why not write a poem?” she asked Don.  His response, “Why not you!”  That was the spark that fired Jo’s imagination and her first poem “The Gate".