Dana Robbins
Current City, State, Country
Birth City, State, Country
Biography
Dana grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. Following a long career as an attorney for the City of New York, Dana earned an MFA in creative writing.
Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Drunken Boat, Muddy River Poetry Review, Paterson Literary Review, Calyx Journal, Moth Magazineand the Fish Poetry Anthology. Her poem, The Butterfly Dress won third place in the Anna Davidson Contest for Jewish Poetry. Her poem, To My Daughter Teaching Science, was presented by Garrison Keillor on the Writers Almanac.
Dana had a stroke at the age twenty-four and frequently writes about disability and healing. She lives in Bronx, New York and Palo Alto, California with her husband Stephen Gleit and their cat, Mr. Bingley. You can learn more about Dana Robbins on her website danamartinerobbins.com.
What is the relationship between Judaism and/or Jewish culture and your poetry?
My Jewish identity pervades my work. I grew up in a nonreligious but very Jewish family with four immigrant grandparents, These beloved ancestors populate and sometimes dictate my poetry. Moreover, I am a regular shul goer and thus biblical and ritual themes often find expression in my poetry. As I am a fervent though nuanced Zionist, Israel is featured prominently in my work.
Published Works
Frida’s Boots (Moon Pie Press, 2022)
After the Parade (Moon Pie Press, 2020)
The Left Side of My Life (Moon Pie Press, 2015)
Author Site
Links to Sample Works
Education
Wellesley College, B.A. History
Columbia University School of Law, J.D.
University of Southern Maine, Stonecoast Program in Creative Writing, M.F.A.