As I prepare for my first indy-publishing experience, I’m reminded of the very first time I saw my words in print.

I had just joined a writers’ group and one of the member benefits was guaranteed publication in one of their two annual journals. I was ecstatic! My words! In print!

I was discussing these kinds of “guaranteed” publications the other day with some friends as we laughed about what we’d published then and how those words might come back to haunt us. On the cusp of my breakthrough popularity, I’m nipping that haunting in the bud and being proactive by laughing at my own words. To save you the Google search, here’s my very first publication:

Lemmings

You conform
With the best of intentions
Whose mind are you
Speaking today?

An original thought
May implode on conception
Fall-out
Falls in the way.

Too many others
Affect your perception
Not just what you see, but how
A fact is a fact
Is fiction
Depending on your mood right now.

Acceptance is your convention
Always on the “right” side of the miff.
But alas, my little lemming,
Beware the mighty cliff.

(2007)

I will confess, I still love the opening lines. And to that I also admit, the last sections were added haphazardly to complete it in time for the immediate deadline. Most authors are responsible for some cringe-worthy prose, but that’s okay– growth is part of the experience. You have to start somewhere! There’ll always be a “then”, what matters is the now.

It seems somehow apropos that I would dig this gem out at this time.