If you saw my other thread (artists), you know that I will soon be compiling a book of my poetry for self-publication for my advanced poetry class. The last two class sessions are going to be devoted to each student giving a reading of at least one of their poems and my professor brought up the idea of making some extra copies of our books and selling them for a few bucks at the reading. That gave me an even better idea.

I read an article in this weeks Newsweek about Iraq veterans getting screwed, for lack of better words, by the VA when it comes to getting help with medical issues once returning stateside. At the end of the article, they list three different organizations you can donate money to and directly help these veterans. Well that got me thinking, why not help out? So I am thinking about publishing a decent amount of these, selling for $5 bucks or so, depending on publishing costs, and donating some of the proceeds to one of these organizations.

If I were to do this, would anyone on here be interested in buying one? Don't worry, it's not mushy poetry by any means, it's all pretty dark or humorous. Hopefully I'm not breaking any rules by posting this. If I am, I apologize, I'm just curious.

Great idea with a wonderful concept, but I don't know how many you would really sell. Not a shot at your writing, but more the content compared to the cause. If it included the work of those in the military too, then it might sell. Something you might want to consider if you really want to make a large contribution to any of those funds.

I think you should post a sample. ;)

Originally posted by eclipzGST
I think you should post a sample. ;)

Ask and you shall receive:

"I Smile At You"

I smile at you,
As I gaze into the depths
Of your cobalt eyes,
And the incomprehensible beauty
Of the smile you return to me.

I smile at you,
As my mind drifts further
From reality, to a world
Inhabited only by us.
In that moment,
The joy in your face disappears.

I smile at you,
Oblivious to what has
Stolen your smile.
Get the FUCK out of the car!
A voice behind me orders
Our separation, an order which
I cannot consider.

I smile at you,
As the cold steel
Whips across my head,
Knocking me into
The steering wheel.

I smile at you,
As he drags me out
And flings me to the ground.
Wipe your tears away sweetie,
I say, for I wish to see
Nothing but your happiness.

I smile at you,
As life escapes me.

Originally posted by injendsm

Originally posted by eclipzGST I think you should post a sample. ;)

Ask and you shall receive: "I Smile At You" I smile at you, As I gaze into the depths Of your cobalt eyes, And the incomprehensible beauty Of the smile you return to me. I smile at you, As my mind drifts further From reality, to a world Inhabited only by us. In that moment, The joy in your face disappears. I smile at you, Oblivious to what has Stolen your smile. Get the FUCK out of the car! A voice behind me orders Our separation, an order which I cannot consider. I smile at you, As the cold steel Whips across my head, Knocking me into The steering wheel. I smile at you, As he drags me out And flings me to the ground. Wipe your tears away sweetie, I say, for I wish to see Nothing but your happiness. I smile at you, As life escapes me.

Thats deep. :tear

Ha ha, thanks man. That's one of my favorites.

Originally posted by RSClipse9d7
Great idea with a wonderful concept, but I don't know how many you would really sell. Not a shot at your writing, but more the content compared to the cause. If it included the work of those in the military too, then it might sell. Something you might want to consider if you really want to make a large contribution to any of those funds.

Thanks for the idea. I'll have to see if any of the military guys on the forums I frequent are writers and maybe add in some of their work.

Wow, I likey that poem very much, but I dont think I completely understand what was happening to the guy. Did he get pulled over while he was with his girl, or is he being car jacked? Sorry I just have this thing where I have to make everything make sense :)

Originally posted by edxmon
Wow, I likey that poem very much, but I dont think I completely understand what was happening to the guy. Did he get pulled over while he was with his girl, or is he being car jacked? Sorry I just have this thing where I have to make everything make sense :)

Don't you know anything about poetry, its up to you how you interpret it!

EDIT: almost forgot this: :+

Yea, but maybe he had a definite event that inspired and its based upon?

Originally posted by edxmon
Wow, I likey that poem very much, but I dont think I completely understand what was happening to the guy. Did he get pulled over while he was with his girl, or is he being car jacked? Sorry I just have this thing where I have to make everything make sense :)

He's at a red light with his girlfriend and just thinking about how much he loves her and he loses focus of reality. A thief comes along and car jacks him, pistol whips and then shoots him. Wasn't based on anything either, the idea just came to me one day so I wrote it down, thought it'd be kind of cool. A lot of my poetry is like that, quite a bit of death and allows for different interpretation.

I'm also starting to think about making this more military oriented as far as the content is concerned because I do have some military prose and poetry and I'm sure that I could find some other people who have the same. If anyone here happens to have some, let me know and I'll see if I can fit it in.