Pennies for my thoughts?
If only
my words were worth
the cost
and overtime hours
I dedicate:
writing, tapping,
scrapping, trashing,
rearranging, replacing,
hoping
they grab your hearts
the way they grab
mine.
Poetry may feed the soul, but it does not do much for the grocery bill. If you enjoy the poems here, consider dropping a few pennies in the tip jar. Every bit helps keep the blog running and the words running. You can send support through my Venmo account.
Begging for Pennies
Writing has always been something I love, but finding a way to turn that love into something lasting has been its own adventure. This poem and this blog post are part of a new experiment. I am testing the waters to see if the words I share here might carry enough value to help keep this website going.
For as long as I have run this site, I tested relying on ads to cover my costs. I have worked hard to make sure those ads do not feel intrusive, because I want the focus to stay on the writing itself. The truth is, even with all that effort, I have not yet earned enough to cash out even once.
Inspiration
Recently, I came across the story of Mike Hayes. As a teenager, he funded his college education by asking for pennies. In 1987, he launched a campaign asking 2.8 million people to send him just one penny each. With the help of a Chicago Tribune columnist, his request spread across the country. Mike Hayes went viral before “going viral” was even a term. The donations added up to cover his tuition at the University of Illinois. That small but mighty idea stuck with me and inspired this poem. I have written other pieces about the dream of making a living with my words, but this one feels like a small step toward putting that dream into action.
It also reminded me of a book I once read with a group of fifth graders, Because of Mr. Terupt. In the story, the teacher assigns a value to each letter of the alphabet and challenges the students to find the most valuable words. In a silly but lasting way, that idea stayed with me too. Words have weight, and sometimes, they are worth more than we think.
I still have a head full of ideas for ways to add value to what I create here. Over time, this website will likely change as I find new paths to explore. For now, I am simply hoping to make it sustainable enough to be worth keeping, and to continue sharing the poems that capture both your hearts and mine.
If you enjoyed this poem, I would love for you to like it, share it, or pass it along. Maybe, just maybe, with your help, it will find a little viral magic of its own.
Thank you for letting my words meet your heart.