My name is Daniela Violin. My poetry penname (that I took on in 2011) is a-maryllis, this is a reference to symbolism of the amaryllis flower which is as follows:

Legend has it that the amaryllis - the stunning red flower we've come to associate with the holidays - began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis fell deeply in love with Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' strength and Apollo's beauty, but her affections were unrequited. Hoping that she could win him over by bestowing upon him the thing he desired most - a flower so unique it had never existed in the world before - Amaryllis sought advice from the oracle of Delphi.

Following his instructions, Amaryllis dressed in maiden's white and appeared at Alteo's door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a golden arrow. When at last Alteo opened his door, there before him was a striking crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's heart. With this romantic - albeit tragic - tale as its beginning, it's not surprising that today the amaryllis has come to symbolize pride, determination and radiant beauty.

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The poems posted here were written between 2001 and 2010.

Life and it's trials and joys are the biggest of my inspirations.                   

I have one children's poem titled "Dragonfly" written in 2001 that was published in 2004 and, again, in 2007 (both print & cd formats) by MacMillan McGraw-Hill New York City. I received compensation of $900 for this publication honour; I have never seen a copy of the publication even though I requested to. It is posted here as well. I still own the rights.

I also have another poem and one of my personal photographs currently being published in New York City. It is a poem without a title that I wrote on a postcard with an amaryllis on the front. It took 3 weeks to get to its destination (from Toronto, Canada to New York City, USA) because of a postage hike that I didn't know about but it got there on Valentine's Day of 2011 which was my grandmother's last valentine's day on earth and also what would have been my grandparents' 69th wedding anniversary! The poem was for my grandparents.

Around February 2011 is when I started using my penname for writing rather than my birth name as this event holds a lot of significance for me.

I also write short fiction but I am a lot less prolific at that. I just find poetry in free verse much easier on expression.