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    Opening the Doors
    Opening the Doors
    Opening the Doors
    Ebook130 pages1 hour

    Opening the Doors

    By Jen Selinsky

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    About this ebook

    "Opening the Doors" contains 177 poems that represent the more than 2,000 which are written in Jen's first fourteen books. From love to hate, the book contains a number of themes, most which are common to the author's works. Fourteen years after the original book's publication, Jen's second edition of "Opening the Doors" contains the original poems as well as thirty-six new ones which were previously unpublished.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJen Selinsky
    Release dateSep 6, 2017
    ISBN9781370752553
    Opening the Doors
    Author

    Jen Selinsky

    Jen Selinsky was born in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2003, she earned her bachelor's degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. In 2004, she earned her master's degree in library science from the same school. Jen has worked as a professional librarian for over twelve years. She has published more than 170 books, most of which contain poetry. Her work can be found on the following sites: Lulu, Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble/Nook, Smashwords, and Pen It! Publications. She has also been featured in publications such as: The Courier Journal, Explorer Magazine, Liphar Magazine, and Indiana Libraries. Jen lives in Sellersburg, IN with her husband.

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      Book preview

      Opening the Doors - Jen Selinsky

      Opening the Doors

      Jen Selinsky

      Copyright © 2015 by Jen Selinsky

      All rights reserved by the author. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Cover Art Copyright © 2015 by Travis Potts

      ISBN 9781370752553

      Opening the Doors was my first poetry book which I had published. The inspiration for the book’s title came from a William Blake quote, and I was also thinking of one of my favorite bands, The Doors. The title was also appropriate in the respect that this was my debut book, which would open the doors for so much more to come!

      A good friend of mine, Chris LoBue, helped me make this dream a reality. Not only had he found out about Great Unpublished (now CreateSpace), but he helped me put the entire thing together.

      One of the most laborious tasks included him reading my handwritten poems from the first fourteen of my poetry books! That, in itself, was a great sacrifice, especially since Chris felt he had to be on the lookout for what he thought were my best poems.

      Another great thing which Chris did for me was order business cards from Vistaprint. Each card had my name and listed me as an author right above the title of my book. The card even contained a brief description of Opening the Doors. The design he chose was terrific because it contained a set of keys placed down on a white surface. It had a nostalgic, yet modern feel.

      Since this was in 2001 and e-books were not readily available, people ordered physical copies Opening the Doors online. Even though this was my first book, and I was really ambitious, I was not really dismayed when only friends and family purchased copies. In all honesty, I did not expect that any others would purchase the book. I paid for and ordered some copies and distributed to people for $10.00 each. I did something similar with A View of Dreams when I first published that title a year later.

      I feel that enough time has passed since the first edition of Opening the Doors was released, so it is time to make an updated copy in order to make it available for a larger audience.

      The original book did not include the following things for each, individual poem: titles, dedications, indicators of source for previous publication, and the dates completed.

      In sticking with the content of the original book, the page spacing, author bio., description, and rough draft wording are as they were in 2001. I have not included those four things in this reissue; they can be found in my other books in which the poems were originally written the published. I did, however, go back and punctuate each poem with a period, which I did not do until my recent, final revisions of all my titles.

      I’ve also added some new and previously unpublished poems, which are dated. (For those of you who may be interested, the original edition of Opening the Doors can still be purchased on Amazon.)

      In addition to adding some new poems, I am including the original notes which came with the first publication. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of my first great labor!

      2015

      This is for all of those who have loved, supported, and inspired me throughout my life.

      The goddess of war, wisdom, and craft.

      The wisest of Greeks, daughter of Zeus,

      You are my muse.

      Give me your wisdom and sympathy

      Guide me through the lands of Greece,

      And let me lead a good life.

      Let me show hospitality to all my guests

      As they would do the same for me.

      Of all the gods and goddesses,

      You are the one who has sponsored me.

      I give thanks to Zeus who has given you birth.

      Through his forehead, you’ve gained his knowledge,

      And I have obtained it from you

      Thanks to you, O’ goddess of wisdom,

      I now can say that I am satisfied.

      Your face is so charming, and I can’t believe that you’re here.

      Come hither and give me a kiss; I haven’t seen you for a long time.

      It’s been weeks, no, months since I felt your last embrace

      Your kisses and hugs are greatly missed.

      What have you done with the ones you owe me now?

      You devil, you handsome rogue, I know all your silly games.

      Give me more of your love when we get to my place

      Break out the champagne…

      No sky, even containing that of the greatest hue,

      Is more lovely in appearance and charm than you.

      I can compare you to a goddess high,

      For no other than you may kiss the sky.

      This day of honor shall last all year ‘round.

      The soil on which you walk is considered holy ground.

      In all the things you do, loving us is of the best.

      This is a day on which you earned a lot more than the rest.

      No other person’s as caring, and no soul shall replace yours,

      For it is you, Mother, that everyone adores.

      From when we were young to our present day of age,

      You took the lead role in acting out on stage.

      When I’m old and grey, I’ll lift my head above.

      It is you, my dear, that I shall always love…

      Of all the gifts God has bestowed upon me,

      I have you to thank Him for the most,

      For who else has loved me so?

      All these years you have guided me

      And played a significant role.

      The past can reflect itself

      And always reveal your face.

      I’ll forever cherish your sweet embrace.

      The true miracle was obviously your day of birth,

      And I’m constantly thanking God for putting you on this earth

      Oh that damn spider,

      How I’ve tried all day to stomp it!

      The world goes too fast

      For me to comprehend.

      The beast comes closer now;

      How it annoys me.

      I try not to get away;

      I just stand there and

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