pleasefindthis's Blog: Written On The Side Of The Page , page 17

A Humble Request

‘I need you to understand something. I wrote this for you. I wrote this for you and only you. Everyone else who reads it, doesn’t get it. They may think they get it, but they don’t. This is the sign you’ve been looking for. You were meant to read these words.’ 

I wrote those words in a journal in 2006 with absolutely no idea that millions of people would read them over the years. For nearly a decade, I have combined my prose with Jon Ellis’ pictures, and given away the best parts of ourselves on www.iwrotethisforyou.me, for free. Our books are just collections of what we've already given people and we're incredibly grateful when people buy them.

So it is with great pride that I share the news that we’re a finalist for Poetry Book Of The Year on www.goodreads.com. Again.

I told people not to vote for us the last time we were nominated because I’m not a fan of awards. The work should be it's own reward. So why am I asking you to vote this time?

I live in South Africa. It’s incredibly expensive to travel to, and do readings or signings anywhere else in the world. I’ve done them once or twice but despite the incredible response I’ve gotten from everyone who I’ve met along the way, traveling often ends up costing me far more money than I make.

So, on a wing and a prayer, I’m trying to immigrate to America next year because it’ll be a lot easier to do readings there, and all over the world. I’ve been advised that my visa stands a better chance of success with an internationally recognized award behind my name.

Like this one.

Writing I Wrote This For You has afforded me a million opportunities and I am grateful for every single one. I am asking you for one more. I am asking you not just to vote, but to encourage others to vote too. Other nominees have bigger social media followings and this is the only way we’ll win this.

I am counting on us to have bigger hearts and to do bigger things.

If you’d like us to win and if you’d like me to come to a reading in your town or city hopefully soon, copy/paste and share this letter, then go here and vote for I Wrote This For You And Only You: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-poetry-books-2015 

My best to you, forever,

pleasefindthis

Last Days

It's the last day of the semifinals for the goodreads.com Poetry Book Of The Year.

If you like I Wrote This For You and what we do, please consider taking a moment to vote for us by clicking here.

Winning this award will help considerably with my visa application to immigrate to America next year. You might remember that last year, when we were nominated for another book, I encouraged people to vote for someone else. This year, this award actually has some kind of meaning and purpose, and so I'm actually trying to win it.

Thank you for your help, patience and support.

Best,

Me

The Hidden Clocks

Don't stop searching.

There is no comfort in giving up.

There are large parts of you that don't exist yet.

The greatest you you could be, is still waiting to be found.

Get up and look.


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P.S. If you like I Wrote This For You, please consider voting for I Wrote This For You And Only You in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Poetry Book Of The Year by clicking here.

The Darkest Glass

If I took away all the irony and cynicism and the sarcasm and the make-believe, all I would be left with was the firm desire that you see me.

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P.S. Please take a moment to vote for I Wrote This For You And Only You in the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards.

The Things I Do Because I'm Me

Would you yell at an apple tree for making apples? Would you scream at the wind for blowing or the rain for falling?

You can't hate someone for being who they are. You shouldn't even yell at a dog for barking.

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P.S. Please don't forget to vote for I Wrote This For You And Only You in the Goodreads Choice Awards by clicking here.

The In-between Things

For a second, the wind blew so hard, it took the rain's breath away and it could not fall, and you had the only hand I wanted to touch.

The View From The Bottom

It’s not that bad. If you want to be sad, come and write sad songs with me. Or we can sit and watch movies. You won’t have to worry about bringing me down - I am already down. I will watch the blackness swallow you and you can watch the blackness swallow me too.

The Weight A Person Leaves

If I am filled with anything, it is leaves and snow and sunlight and life.

If I am filled with anything, it is seasons.

If I am filled with anything, it is something advancing and retreating.

It is a giant tide that pulls me with it.

I wonder if you kept the same things inside.

I must wonder if, for you, the tide went out one last time, and then came in too far.

The Reason For The Reasonless

I write poetry so that somewhere, life can be beautiful, perfect, fair and good.

I do not know why you do what what you do.

The Movement Of Slow Light

In the end, there's still a rainbow trapped in the edge of the glass that cuts you.

As slow as ships on the horizon.

As quick as a life.