Getting the word out

Hey everyone! :)

I'm sure some of you have noticed that I've been contributing less to Vocal in terms of submitting poetry, etc. Well, there's a specific reason why. See, I have been writing a book of poems for and about survivors of sexual assault (rape / intimate partner violence / domestic violence / human trafficking). I have put all my creative energy behind this project. There are now 40 poems in the collection. I started shopping for a publisher, but most publishers want $20 and $30 read fees just to read your book, and that became financially burdensome and tedious very quickly.

So I started questioning myself, asking myself what was the rush?

What I figured out was there really was no rush --what there was, was passion to get the word out. Because I remember what it was like, all of the self-blame, the anger, the guilt, just needing to know the one truth: It was never my fault that it happened. That no amount of short skirts or nights out drinking or just being born wrong caused the sexual violence that happened to me. It took 50 years and six months for me to understand, deep inside, that one truth. And once I did—once I believed that it wasn't my fault the healing journey began. I want to give that to others, so I have poured my heart and soul into this book of unpublished poems. Over fifty poems later (not everyone made the cut), I have a mixture of poems I think will speak the truth that survivors need to hear.

So I made a decision to take 15 of my best poems, in form of a chapbook or as it's called lately, poetry pamphlet and send one to a few sexual trauma nonprofits in each state across the U.S. and Canada. Why would I do this rather than traditionally publish and sell the book? Because I'm not Big Pharma. Sexual violence is not a bad case of the flu. It's an epidemic that goes back for generations and generations. I've spent over 50 years feeling sorry for myself with guilt , shame, self-blame and anger (so much anger!) Well, I'm done with that!! I'm 63 years old, and it's time I did something, gave back something, while I still can and this is it, folks!

And you can help me, and be part of this. So I'm offering anyone who'll donate any amount to postage costs a free unpublished poem that is guaranteed to knock your socks off—a poem that is possibly one of the best I've ever done. If you can't donate, don't feel bad. There are still ways you can help.

1. Contact your local sexual trauma nonprofit and just tell them you care.

2. Write your own article or poem about how important it is survivors know it's not their fault.

3. Talk about it, because enough people are not talking about it.

If you can donate, you could do it in the form of a tip here on Vocal, or you can go to my Buy Me a Coffee page and make a donation there. Either way, this is important, so I urge you to do something. Because as I've said before, I guarantee you that you know at least three people who have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime, if not more. So do it for them.

I really care a lot about you all, and I thank you! – Sam