Sometimes I Smile: Collected Poetry

By Derek Cross

This poetry collection is an introspective look into several aspects of what it means to be human in this day and age. Many of the pieces serve as internal debates on topics such as human nature, love, death, lust, and fear. These poems also serve as a means of connection--a medium for the author to connect with the reader and the reader to the greater world. Through various poetic modes of haikus, sonnets, freeform, and strict time verse, we journey into the human mind to grapple with past trauma and, looking inward, start to see a path to healing. Many of the poems pull in essences of Buddhism, as well as allusions to popular culture, current and historic world events, arts, literature, and satire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666758788

Derek Cross

Derek Cross is a historian, musician, freelance artist, and poet. As a lifelong creator, he uses his art and writing as a form of expression and connection. He is also a dedicated Vajrayana practitioner who is helping to bring happiness to everyone through the arts. This is his second poetry collection.

Book preview

Sometimes I Smile

collected poetry

by Derek Cross

Sometimes I Smile

Collected Poetry

Copyright ©

2022

Derek Cross. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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Resource Publications

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199

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8

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Eugene, OR

97401

www.wipfandstock.com

paperback isbn: 978-1-6667-5876-4

hardcover isbn: 978-1-6667-5877-1

ebook isbn: 978-1-6667-5878-8

Table of Contents

Title Page

Inspiration

To Keats

As I Am

My Process

A Life’s Endeavor

Ode to Birds

Our Happy Place

I Dream

A Means to an End

A Poorly written Ode to the Masters

The Obvious Choice

A Simple Answer

A World at War

Barbarians

A Kind World

Dark Night

Lament of Desire

My little Demon

An End of Jealousy

Bliss Clarity

Devotion

Friends

Autumn in Tokyo

A Sweet Invitation

Dawn of Shame

True Love

Contentment

The Moments I live for

All I have

Discipline

A Day in the Life

She Loves Me

Flashy birds

Untitled

Fear

Hungry Hungry Death

Aye, there's the Rub

Two Abreast

Incoherent Ramblings

Verbosity

On the Other Side

My Tattoo

Joyful Release

Criticism

Heartless

Withered

Less than Soot

Moral Envy

Fresh Veal

Miraculous

Sonnet of Impermanence

It Sustains Me

Diligence

Be Like Water

Destiny

Change

Interdependent