A Teenagers Poetic Journey: My Journey's Beginning

This book of poems was written during my Junior and Senior years of High School. Those years were among the most chaotic years of my life thus far, because of so many little and major events going on at the time. I needed an outlet to let my emotions and feelings loose so to not lose myself within my own mind. Some may say that I lost myself anyhow, as I was also learning to cope with depression that to this day has never really gone away. None the less, I took pen to paper and wrote numerous pieces ranging across many topics, emotions, and events that were going on at the time.

After High School, I attempted to publish some of my works with the aid of someone my Grandparents knew who also published a book of his own. My Grandfather believed my dedication to my writings should be recognized by others, and as such he lent me the money necessary to begin publication. A book was produced but was done so poorly and not as I had hoped. In fact, the gentlemen who assisted us in making the book only used a portion of what was given to him to print what I made and then ran off with the rest of the money. Granted it was not a significant amount of funds, it was still a hard blow to my Grandparents who trusted the gentlemen. This resulted in a book that never took off the ground, never seen by more than a handful of individuals, and a dream that was believed to have died off.

Fourteen years later, I have pushed myself to ensure that dream comes to life once more. In dedication to my Grandfather who initially believed in me and my work, I have put together my writings once more for others to read. I do not intend every poem to be liked, to be understood, or even to be read by those who may place their hands on this book. My only intent is to achieve a dream that was ignited by a caring and loving Grandfather. To publish my works so they may read for generations to come, and to achieve my own dream that at least one of my works may touch your heart and soul.

Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to achieve our dreams. Thank you for opportunity to share my works with you. I really hope that you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing them, and that they may in fact mean something to you on a personal level for any point in your life.