Published Poets ONLY! show me your stuff, old OR new

[Maria2394]

HI All!



For anyone interested, here is a thread about published Lit poets. A while back, a group of us started a sort of endeavor to get published. We worked hard, submitted our tushes off and voila, we made it!!! Everyone who has a sincere interest in becoming published is welcome here as we can all learn something from one another.

There is a thread annaswirls started called Tooting the horns and patting the backs. That is for the modest poets who have been published to announce their successes.

Well, it has been a LONG long time, and I have been missing some of the very talented people who have gone on with their lives, but if there are some hanging around, who would be interested in posting some of their own favorite poems which have been published in the mainstream, NOT LIT, I would be thrilled, as many others might be, to read your favorite poems that were published.

IF you do decide to put a published poem here, I will not quote it so that you may remove at anytime, and be sure to list where it was first published, the e-zines and print places who gave you the chance deserve at least that much.



I am hoping that this might inspire some of the more talented people to begin submitting again. and the STC used to be great, but its gone, maybe we should go that route again also.

I hope you all have a most wonderful day! and keep up the good writing!






w-r-i-t-e! ON!!!!

 

[Maria2394]

MY favorite poem that was published in print is "A String Theory, Simplified" I will have to dig out the anthology edition and copy it on here.

Pat C, and VD, and several others helped me proof my work, and I cannot forget Angeline and 1201 who were immensely helpful.

be back soon

smile




as a PS, I hope that this will get together a new group of the newer people here who would enjoy taking the time to submit work. I have tons of links, as do many other here and I did hear that Dora had her poem "Placemats" published, so CONGRATS!!! IT was a great poem, deserved recognition. keep on writin' MIss Dora

 

[Hurrealism]

Qualify?

What is the criteria for being considered a published poet? I have had only four pieces published on a minor site and would like to explore further options of posting elsewhere. I have a blog of erotic art and poetry that I wish to share with you if you have the time.

hurrealism.com

Please, let me know what you think and any advice moving forward with erotic poetry is appreciated.

Thanks much...
Jessica

I recently was also features on The Erotic Woman's site. They also pusblished a piece I wrote, accompanied with art.

http://www.theeroticwoman.com/content/vital-ache

 

[Maria2394]

What is the criteria for being considered a published poet? I have had only four pieces published on a minor site and would like to explore further options of posting elsewhere. I have a blog of erotic art and poetry that I wish to share with you if you have the time.

hurrealism.com

Please, let me know what you think and any advice moving forward with erotic poetry is appreciated.

Thanks much...
Jessica

I recently was also features on The Erotic Woman's site. They also pusblished a piece I wrote, accompanied with art.

http://www.theeroticwoman.com/content/vital-ache

Hi, Jessica!!

and welcome to my thread. Your qualifications sound just wonderful to me. Many of us have been published in some well-known places, some in upstart ezines and journals. What I am looking for is people, like you, who have the drive and the self motivation, not to mention, the self confidence it takes to send your poem 'babies" off to be judged by strangers.

Some of the people I send this appeal out to, have won /been nominated for many excellent awards and have won many contests which resulted in publication. As you well know, it is not easy, so a lazy poet really wouldn't be interested in this thread.

I was hoping that if anyone responded, they might share a piece that he/she is most proud of, and if you feel like, share the why's of your success with your poem.

You, or any other contributor to this thread does NOT have to be in the New Yorker or some other lofty publication to be in this thread, just show that you have the drive and desire to be published, and if I can help you in any way, let me know. I hoped to make it to the Paris Review, eventually, but have been so busy working, my poetry has been neglected. I need a MUSE!!!!

I am looking forward to reading any of your work that has been published, but unless you specifically request, there will be NO critique on these works as they have already passed some judges requirements.

I am just looking for diversity, to see what type of poems wind up in what type zines or journal, or even anthologies.

IF you want critique or help of any kind, we can start another thread where specific issues about the works may be addressed, other than that, it is just for bragging rights ( a little) and learning and sharing, ( mostly).

I will post a few of mine later and I want to thank you for being the first person to respond to this thread. I can tell you have potential and desire, and I wish you nothing but success in your coming endeavors and hope that I may be of help or at least, encouragement.

welcome, Jessica!!



~maria

 

[Maria2394]

I Was thinking about the process of submitting one's work and how traumatic it can be. I remember when Angeline convinced me to go for it, to send some of my work to PAW, so I did and two of the poems received poem of the month.

I was terrified when I submitted my first poem here. i knew it was awful, but I got a considerable amount of valuable feedback from members of the forum and have since learned so much.

But the publishing thing....I was wondering if any others who have gone through the waiting, the anxiety of whether the editor likes the work or respects it enough to choose it for publication. I will admit that I never expect to hear anything good, always expect rejection, but it was never as bad as I thought it would be. Somehow, it gave me strength and the determination to work harder and write better so maybe next time I submit a poem I feel has merit, I won't be so afraid.

It was a sort of "funny" coincidence that happened here at Lit several years ago. A group of poets got together, shared links and leads and grew to know one another well enough that a few of them eventually wound up producing a wonderful e-zine we all know and love as Mannequin Envy. several of the participants have been nominated for Pushcarts and other very respectable awards, and a couple have even published chap books and entire books of poetry.

I am so proud to say that I knew those poets "when" they first started. And some of us got our start here. This place used to have so much potential. Sure, erotica is good, but there was a focus, a focus on quality and poetic communication that touched the soul and hearts and humanity of the people who read the poems.

I am optimistic. I believe that the talent, though different people now, I believe that there is much untapped brilliance here, just aching to get out and I wish all the new students of poetry the very best. I understand many of you have no desire to learn anything from me, but there are many others who can aid you in the process if you ask them, and if they have time.

If not, there are some older threads with exceptional links, that can guide you to which publication would be best suited to your own personal type of writing. Some places pay, most do not, but the best part of it all, is getting your work out there, being read and reaching people, touching someone you may never meet. Writing it special and if you're here and writing, then you must have a message, something to share. Don't deprive the world of something profound or tender that you might be able to share. Your voice is a gift, use it.

 

[Maria2394]

What is the criteria for being considered a published poet? I have had only four pieces published on a minor site and would like to explore further options of posting elsewhere. I have a blog of erotic art and poetry that I wish to share with you if you have the time.

hurrealism.com

Please, let me know what you think and any advice moving forward with erotic poetry is appreciated.

Thanks much...
Jessica

I recently was also features on The Erotic Woman's site. They also published a piece I wrote, accompanied with art.

http://www.theeroticwoman.com/content/vital-ache

Jessica, have you ever heard of Clean Sheets? They publish strictly Erotica and now they pay for it!

I have a poem and a story there, though the story is rather graphic and published under the name Mia Moore. I think I got 25 bucks for the story , lol, but it was cool because I had never made any money off any of my stuff before.

I also have a poem. I am posting links for you- so you can get an idea of what they will accept- ( yes, that's my real name on the poem, but everyone here knows it and I am not interesting enough to get a stalker, ROFL) so, it's okay.


Bandora's Pox ( her affliction)

http://www.cleansheets.com/poetry/jm_11.16.05.shtml

Clean Sheets will accept work that has appeared elsewhere, and when they accepted mine, I got an editor along with it. He only suggested a few changes, there were no changes requested in the poem. I think once you look over the site, you might find that some of your work would fit wonderfully there. But, they only choose a few each month and pay nominally, but the exposure is worth the small payment.

They get thousands of hits per day. It didn't make me famous, but I got some pretty kinky but kind and mostly respectful comments on it and a LOAD of emails. They have since rejected 5 more of my stories, I just got lucky with that one. But hey, never ever give u p, ok? Publishers won't come knocking on your door asking for your work unless you are Stephen King or JK Rowling, hehe. I can tell you this, they like stories with a story, not just fuck stories.

No Tail, Just Head-

http://www.cleansheets.com/fiction/moore_09.28.05.shtml


And Jessica,

even if you consider a site a "minor" site, you were good enough to get published there, so you did something right. Literotica will publish anything at all as long as it has no child porn or bestiality, and I found out myself, no rape, even though mine was a t rue account, Laurel made me change some stuff to get it on this site and it ruined the story, so I pulled it.

Lit is a good jump off point, and the Poetry Forum is a great place to learn, but that is if you stick to the poetry threads and not get distracted by the "other: stuff that is in the sub-forum where the other stuff belongs. I am glad this part of the PFD is back on track, focused on the real thing...POETRY!!


If you ever have any questions that I am capable of answering, please feel free to PM me. I am home puking sick today, so will probably be tucked in bed with my cats and my laptop.

have a terrific day! and WRITE something!!!



~ MAria

 

[WickedEve]

Maria, I am in support of this thread, because it is a poetry thread. Thank you for that and please continue.


I have some poems published in five books -- anthologies.
Barking Dogs No. 1
Barking Dogs No. 2
The Barking Dogs are anthologies put together by our own bogusbrig. The books include other literotica poets' works. One of my photographs is the back cover of Barking Dogs No. 2. It may be a bit lame but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm a published poet and photographer. Well, kind of. lol

TRIM: Mannequin Envy Anthology
As you know, mannequin envy is the wonderful poetry e-zine owned by annaswirls. And a former literotica poet, Pat Carrington, is one of the editors. Pat has his own chap books! I have a couple and they are brilliant. I'll have to find the links to those books. Also, again, other lit poets have poetry in Trim.

And I have a few poems in Velvet Avalanche My poetry in that books comes from Erosha, which I believe is no longer online. Again, there are works by lit poets in that anthology!

There's one more book. Don't remember the name. Don't have the book. hmm...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure all the poems I have in these books are or were posted at literotica. I pretty much submit or post poetry here. I don't push my work. I'm only in some of these books because I was asked. I need to be more aggressive, darn it.

 

[champagne1982]

Well, Eve has a thread in which how far 2008 took us. I looked back on the resolution thread and noticed that while I did submit poetry to some quite extraordinary publications I really didn't fulfill my goals by shotgunning my stuff out there. This is where the dedication to poetry really takes us.

Most publishers won't take work that's appeared on other sites although workshopping a poem in a forum such as this one, as long as you're up front about the process, is acceptable to nearly every one I had correspondence with. So, now that this has been out there for a year, I'll share it back on this forum where I first wrote it.

You can read it under my real name, here at

Water Colour in the Red River Review.

Water colour sunlight
paints the chair
and fingers on the arm
thrumming impatient
worry in the dawn.
I'm here where I
am supposed to be,
with reluctant tolerance
to those unconscious
rituals, borne
of familiar presence
and love remembered.
Twisting a strand
loosened from a braid
until it looks like dread
locks on a wannabe Marley
and I realize
there'll be no more jammin'.
Ask me why silent
torment is better
than mourning
what can't be saved.
I'm here where I
don't want to be
in water colour dawn.

I also have a couple of poems printed in Red Pulp Underground's Zygote Abstract 2007 but the ezine is no longer being produced. The publishers there will put out an annual anthology, however, so they're still taking submissions.

A few story magazines picked up a couple of my submissions from Literotica to print in a couple of pulp books. I didn't get paid cash but I do have copies of those magazines kicking around. (I think they're just so much fire tinder but heck, they've got my pen name in them so I'll keep 'em outta the flame for now.)

Being published is a lot of writing, a tonne of submitting and finally a great deal of luck that your poem hits the right desk at the right time. There are literally thousands of people in the world seeking publication, only a few are published and fewer still are paid.

Good luck to any and all who try this path. I intend to keep jetting mine out there for editors to reject. LOL.

 

[WickedEve]

Stunning poem. Wow, you've really come far as a poet, girl.

 

[champagne1982]

Stunning poem. Wow, you've really come far as a poet, girl.

Thankyou. That's from my gallery series of poems. I sent them off to a national contest and of course all they won me was spam emails every 3 months asking me to enter their contest for another 25 bucks. I don't think I'll bother.

I will keep trying to build up my print publishing credits so that I can apply for a National Arts Council grant that would pay me to write and print my own chapbook. No one says you have to get rich doing this stuff but 10 grand would print a lot of poems.

 

[WickedEve]

Thankyou. That's from my gallery series of poems. I sent them off to a national contest and of course all they won me was spam emails every 3 months asking me to enter their contest for another 25 bucks. I don't think I'll bother.

I will keep trying to build up my print publishing credits so that I can apply for a National Arts Council grant that would pay me to write and print my own chapbook. No one says you have to get rich doing this stuff but 10 grand would print a lot of poems.

Keep going for it. You're the kind of poet who can do it. Skills, talent, aggression.

 

[Maria2394]

Maria, I am in support of this thread, because it is a poetry thread. Thank you for that and please continue.


I have some poems published in five books -- anthologies.
Barking Dogs No. 1
Barking Dogs No. 2
The Barking Dogs are anthologies put together by our own bogusbrig. The books include other literotica poets' works. One of my photographs is the back cover of Barking Dogs No. 2. It may be a bit lame but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm a published poet and photographer. Well, kind of. lol

TRIM: Mannequin Envy Anthology
As you know, mannequin envy is the wonderful poetry e-zine owned by annaswirls. And a former literotica poet, Pat Carrington, is one of the editors. Pat has his own chap books! I have a couple and they are brilliant. I'll have to find the links to those books. Also, again, other lit poets have poetry in Trim.

And I have a few poems in Velvet Avalanche My poetry in that books comes from Erosha, which I believe is no longer online. Again, there are works by lit poets in that anthology!

There's one more book. Don't remember the name. Don't have the book. hmm...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure all the poems I have in these books are or were posted at literotica. I pretty much submit or post poetry here. I don't push my work. I'm only in some of these books because I was asked. I need to be more aggressive, darn it.

~~~~~


Hey Eve!!

I have known since my first day here that you are an exceptional poet. Thank you for sharing your successes with us. I have been blessed to see many of your photographs and am constantly amazed at your talent with light, angles and subjects. It is a pleasure viewing the world through your eyes. And your poetry, well, you've gotten my emails and PC's and you know by now that you are one of my 3 fave poets here.

I actually cried when you pulled your work after that girl plagiarized us like she did. Admitting that you have accomplished something with your mind and yoru hands as in your artistc endeavors, is NOT lame. You shoudl be proud, but I know you aren't the bragging type. The best usually don't brag and I consider you among them.

Main Street Rag has an annual chapbook contest, I think Pat won it one year, didn't he? They are also the ones who publish the Kakalak Anthology of a Poets which I have been lucky enough to make it in both times I entered.If you gathered a bunch of your work and sent it in, I bet you would win. I Would buy at least 10 copies, just for people I have shared your poetry with. You are much better than you give yourself credit for, dear Lady. My oldest daughter still asks me for a copy of The Dark Continent of SC...she loved that poem.


I was SO proud when I made it into Dead Mule with you, I felt like I had won a Pulitzer prize, lol. BogusBrig did contact me and asked me to submit some of my work, but I was in Florida then, working 12 hours a day and just was too wiped out to even think about writing anything. I regret now that I didn't as I know he has some stellar work and poets in his anthologies.

Once again, thank you posting your info on this thread. I wasn't sure there would be any responses for many reasons, but mostly, some people just don't share their real lives with strangers. I see a wonderful legacy from you and fully expect to hear my future grandkids telling me about this awesome poet they are reading in school.

PLease share anything else you have in the future...you have inspired me many times and probably many others too.



maria

 

[WickedEve]

~~~~~


Hey Eve!!

I have known since my first day here that you are an exceptional poet.

maria

Thank you.
Hey, think you could remove that first paragraph from your original post? It's kind of an unpleasant moment in this thread, which should be above such things. This is a poetry thread, right? And thank you for getting back to poetry.

 

[Maria2394]

Dearest Evie-

your request, honorable and peaceful suggestion has been honored. I appreciate your tact and kindness.

hugs

~m

 

[WickedEve]

Dearest Evie-

your request, honorable and peaceful suggestion has been honored. I appreciate your tact and kindness.

hugs

~m

Ah, thank you. Now you're being the Maria I know!
Here's to a peaceful poetry forum for the holidays. Love to you all.

 

[Maria2394]

Well, Eve has a thread in which how far 2008 took us. I looked back on the resolution thread and noticed that while I did submit poetry to some quite extraordinary publications I really didn't fulfill my goals by shotgunning my stuff out there. This is where the dedication to poetry really takes us.

Most publishers won't take work that's appeared on other sites although workshopping a poem in a forum such as this one, as long as you're up front about the process, is acceptable to nearly every one I had correspondence with. So, now that this has been out there for a year, I'll share it back on this forum where I first wrote it.

You can read it under my real name, here at

Water Colour in the Red River Review.

Water colour sunlight
paints the chair
and fingers on the arm
thrumming impatient
worry in the dawn.
I'm here where I
am supposed to be,
with reluctant tolerance
to those unconscious
rituals, borne
of familiar presence
and love remembered.
Twisting a strand
loosened from a braid
until it looks like dread
locks on a wannabe Marley
and I realize
there'll be no more jammin'.
Ask me why silent
torment is better
than mourning
what can't be saved.
I'm here where I
don't want to be
in water colour dawn.

I also have a couple of poems printed in Red Pulp Underground's Zygote Abstract 2007 but the ezine is no longer being produced. The publishers there will put out an annual anthology, however, so they're still taking submissions.

A few story magazines picked up a couple of my submissions from Literotica to print in a couple of pulp books. I didn't get paid cash but I do have copies of those magazines kicking around. (I think they're just so much fire tinder but heck, they've got my pen name in them so I'll keep 'em outta the flame for now.)

Being published is a lot of writing, a tonne of submitting and finally a great deal of luck that your poem hits the right desk at the right time. There are literally thousands of people in the world seeking publication, only a few are published and fewer still are paid.

Good luck to any and all who try this path. I intend to keep jetting mine out there for editors to reject. LOL.

Hi Champ

I was so thrilled when you began submitting your most excellent work. And I am honored to have a piece in Red River with you

You have as much talent and potential as anyone I have ever met on here and I knew you were special when I read your poem about the cancer ward and I decided then that I wanted to be able to write in a way that brings emotion to the surface but with cause and reason..and tears are good too.


``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

for those who do not wish to post here because they feel they must reveal their names, that is not necessary. I was just looking for published people who could give advice to those who are considering getting into the process.

I know that some people are reluctant to post links to their work that has their real names here, being it is a porn site. but porn does not define our work unless we want it to and there really is no reason to expose ourselves ,or those who have jobs where it would be detrimental to have his/her name associated with this place. Just because you don't want your name out there, you can still speak of your experiences. okay? There is no discrimination against anonymity, just be honest.

To the kind person whose PM I received last night on that very subject ( thanks snood, I hadn't even thought of that, so thanks for the enlightenment) This thread is not ONLY for people who want to reveal their real names, if you are published in places other than trash rags and porn sites, you may speak of your experiences here. Your real name is not required, I just wanted to ask questons and learn about the experiences of others. I know I have had some problems understanding the in and out of different publications. I just want to help and if anyone else can offer suggestions, please feel free.

Thank you for sharing on this thread Champ. I too, am expecting a chapbook or more from you in the near future
wishing you all the best-

~ maria

 

[champagne1982]

The only reason I mentioned what name that poem was published under is because it's not associated with Carrie Champagne in that 'zine and a lot of people who frequent the forum could be offended by possible plaigarism phantoms. That's all. I wasn't under the impression that I was obligated to reveal my home identity before participating in this thread.

Anyway. It is tough to get your work out there. If anyone has any doubts on whether their poems anywhere on the web count as published, then you can always contact the submissions editor for clarification, most are friendly folk and will eventually reply. When you submit work, I have a couple of pieces of advice:

Edit your poem for typos and malapropisms. Improper scansion and poor word choice are death knells unless they are INTENTIONAL.

Be open to suggested changes by the publisher. They know what their readers expect and always offer advice that must be followed as a condition of them using a piece in their pub. It is their right to ask for changes just as it is the writer's to disagree. If you refuse then odds are you'll be getting a rejection letter rather than one welcoming you to their index of published poets.

Keep writing and submitting. Track your submissions so that if you do happen to simultaneously submit (which if you do is likely in defiance of their submission guidelines) and a piece is accepted in a journal insisting on first pub rights then you can pull your submission from the other queues it may be waiting in. Keep in mind journal content is usually planned months in advance and by you pulling your work from a publisher may result in unneccessary work to their office and they could harbour resentment. As a beginner, I look for places who accept simultaneous and previously published work that way, no one really minds that they don't have first crack at a poetic hymen.​

I hope that this offering helps people get their work out there and shows that all poems, even those published at a free publication site can be counted as previously published, which isn't a problem as long as you let the submissions editor know where your words are and have been.

 

[Maria2394]

The only reason I mentioned what name that poem was published under is because it's not associated with Carrie Champagne in that 'zine and a lot of people who frequent the forum could be offended by possible plaigarism phantoms. That's all. I wasn't under the impression that I was obligated to reveal my home identity before participating in this thread.

Anyway. It is tough to get your work out there. If anyone has any doubts on whether their poems anywhere on the web count as published, then you can always contact the submissions editor for clarification, most are friendly folk and will eventually reply. When you submit work, I have a couple of pieces of advice:

Edit your poem for typos and malapropisms. Improper scansion and poor word choice are death knells unless they are INTENTIONAL.

Be open to suggested changes by the publisher. They know what their readers expect and always offer advice that must be followed as a condition of them using a piece in their pub. It is their right to ask for changes just as it is the writer's to disagree. If you refuse then odds are you'll be getting a rejection letter rather than one welcoming you to their index of published poets.

Keep writing and submitting. Track your submissions so that if you do happen to simultaneously submit (which if you do is likely in defiance of their submission guidelines) and a piece is accepted in a journal insisting on first pub rights then you can pull your submission from the other queues it may be waiting in. Keep in mind journal content is usually planned months in advance and by you pulling your work from a publisher may result in unneccessary work to their office and they could harbour resentment. As a beginner, I look for places who accept simultaneous and previously published work that way, no one really minds that they don't have first crack at a poetic hymen.​

I hope that this offering helps people get their work out there and shows that all poems, even those published at a free publication site can be counted as previously published, which isn't a problem as long as you let the submissions editor know where your words are and have been.

Champ, you were NOT under any obligation. I accidentally answered someone who WAS concerned about the issue in my response to you. I am sorry if I offended you, this thread is about nothing BUT trying to get people interested in getting their work out there if they are interested. I will delete my prior post. I have always adored you and was thanking you for your input, that's all

I also wanted to stress that if someone did not want their name revealed, they don't have to unless they want to. I did not want ANYONE to think this thread was only for those people who are willing to share their whole lives. There are enough exclusionary threads around here already. I just wanted some of us to share experiences on how we got published. I was trying to contribute something good to this place guess I failed again.

be well sweet Champ, you have never been anything but wonderful to me. I respect you and your poetry and always will.

 

[champagne1982]

No offense taken, never was. I was glad to share my meagre experience with anyone who can glean info about the first steps to showing off their work.

It takes a measure of self-confidence and control to put your poetry out there for someone to reject (or accept, but that happens with less frequency than its opposite) and keep it there while it's being reviewed.

So, courage dear poets, you'll be read, just believe in your work. If you've done the best you can and taken the help you're offered know that you've given it your best shot. Producing the poetry is like baking a cake, being published is the icing. Sometimes, having the icing is unneccessary if the cake can't be improved upon and the baker is happy with it.

Otherwise, the icing is so very yummy .

 

[Maria2394]

No offense taken, never was. I was glad to share my meagre experience with anyone who can glean info about the first steps to showing off their work.

It takes a measure of self-confidence and control to put your poetry out there for someone to reject (or accept, but that happens with less frequency than its opposite) and keep it there while it's being reviewed.

So, courage dear poets, you'll be read, just believe in your work. If you've done the best you can and taken the help you're offered know that you've given it your best shot. Producing the poetry is like baking a cake, being published is the icing. Sometimes, having the icing is unneccessary if the cake can't be improved upon and the baker is happy with it.

Otherwise, the icing is so very yummy .

 

[Maria2394]

I will admit it, I want a Pushcart. I read people who have been nominated, who have won.

I have pored over Poe and damn, I love Eliot and WC Williams. I want to do better but I'm not lazy, something is stuck. Lately, things have gotten better, but what is there to do, really, when you lose your muse.

I have stumbled across relatively unknown poets online that have moved me to such a place I felt undeserving of my own life and ashamed of all I had ever written. Then it occured to me, that wasn't bad, it was good. I recognized that the poet had struggled., had worked, it takes effort to produce works that move.

Since I read that one certain poem, my whole outlook changed. I noticed a change in my own work and I wish I could thank him, but can't.

There are poets here who have done that for me. But it comes at a price- you must delve deeply into your heart, soul and release the pain and joy for all to see. Some may identify, some may not, but it is therapy and often times, beauty in words and the honesty of the poet who wrote them.

When I first joined Lit,. I sucked. really. then after a while, things changed, I saved my Lit FB letters in an old hotmail account,there are over 1000. When I wrote about personal things, bared my soul, I would often regret being so personal,. then people would write and tell me how much it helped. Many of your poems have helped me and I am thankful for a place where we can speak freely and teach our hearts to love and our brains to think a bit harder.

have a peaceful night, all

~ maria