A Dilemma: self-publish the poems? Or chase a deal?

Help!

A strange thing is happening.

Poetry is being published again! Some publishers have discovered that there is a real market for poetry. Recently my AD (Adopted Daughter) completed her first book of poetry and decided (with my encouragement) to self-publish. So she put a cover together, signed up with https://www.createspace.com

and created her first Slim Volume. The poems are very evocative – she has a fine crisp feeling for words and emotions and her unique story gives her licence, even at her young age (she is 20), to a great deal more wisdom than many older people. You can judge for yourself  at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Estranged-birth-collection-Zara-Sen/dp/1548661430/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519215598&sr=1-2&keywords=zara+sen

And here’s the thing: encouraged by the success of Rupi Kaur’s collection Milk and Honey, who self-published hers and was so successful, a traditional American Publisher gave her a deal, Zara submitted her work to them – and we’ll see what happens.

At this point I had just finished collecting and collating all my poems, going back hundreds of years (I am immortal) (according to some people who should know better) and forward into post-apocalypse (I am after all adrift in space and time according to some people who know better) and was about to self-publish.

It’s a bit like throwing a stone into eternity. It tumbles on down, tumbles and tumbles, and disappears.

I have no idea whether my poetry is any good. I have the feeling that a few of the pieces – especially the title poem – echo long in the mind. Others are mere doggerel, often comic. It’s a concatenation of trash and treasure. I have submitted some of the poems to various collections, mostly Forward Press. They published everything I submitted but to be frank, some of the stuff they publish is just embarrassing. Seriously, people who rhyme moon and June. People I would edge away from on the tube. (Mutual, I’m sure.) Dear Forward Press even gave me some prizes in their competitions. This is no proof the poems are any good.

So I really don’t know what to do. I would appreciate advice! Preferably email, or post below. The illustration is an idea I have for a cover – any good?

GOOD ADVICE = FREE COPY OF THE COLLECTION!

Here are a few poems to give you an idea. If you look under Poetry on this blog, some contemporary stuff. Some older stuff can be seen here: http://jonelkon.com/poetry-inundation-trash-and-treasure/

Looking forward to hearing from you….