An Original Poetry Chapbook by Iraq War Veteran Allen Taylor
Hi. I'm Allen Taylor, author of the poetry chapbook Going Dutch. I'm going to keep it short and simple.
In July 2004, my National Guard unit was activated and I spent all of 2005 in Iraq. I felt the war was unjust (and still do), but I decided I'd go with my unit anyway despite my objections (hey, it was either that or jail). In September, I took 15 days of R&R leave and met my wife in Frankfurt, Germany. We spent 15 days touring the country by train. These poems were written during that time and when I returned home from Iraq I put them into a chapbook with some photos that we took while in Germany as well.
For just a measly $5$3 (reduced) you can have your own copy of Going Dutch, the poetry chapbook, in print or in digital .pdf format, your choice (the electronic chapbook is actually only $1.49!).
Allen, Sounds Good, Give Me The Immediate Digital Download!
I'd Prefer The Print Copy, Thank You!
Not Sure? Read This!
Going Dutch is not just your run-of-the-mill "look what I did in Germany" poetry chapbook. While you do get a good picture of the good time my wife and I had, I make every attempt to make these poems literary. Titles of poems in the chapbook include:
Going Dutch (title poem)
Fraulein
Belly
Schadenfreude
Siege
Schloss
Neuschwanstein
Goodbye Berlin
Here is a sampling of great poems you'll find in Going Dutch. Watch this video of the poem "Siege" (as heard on Gypsy Art Show with Belinda Subraman), written in honor of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval walled fortress that was attacked and lost everything it held of value.
And just in case you're wondering, no, I don't mind sharing the lyrics with you:
Siege
A battlement inside the Rothenburg city wall.
For centuries you held the highest honor,
Avoided penetration. You erected walls
To protect you, walls which towered
Over your youth like umbrage
For lost souls. Then, heaven and hell
be damned, you lost your life’s work
in a single day. The Hour Song sung
and the trading for the day almost done,
you settled in for the night. Not a grain
of salt was wasted on your streets.
Your ramparts kept it hidden
and your children fed. Amazing
how so much history can change
in a fleeting moment. Your dire distress
in the day of your defense cast a powder
of dry doubt upon your great white hope.
Having felt betrayed, you surrendered
and fell into burning despair, hungering
all the while for the end. It eluded you.
But today, having slept past your prime,
you stand like a monument to your defeat,
your wrinkled old face reflecting years
of weather and war and the whole world
knows that were it not for trepidation,
endurance, gall, you would not be alive
to witness your own grand return
to yourself and that quiet place
of exquisite repose.
Don't Wait To Get Your Copy Of Going Dutch
There are two ways you can get your hands on this poetry chapbook. You can pay $3 for the print copy and I will mail you your own copy as soon as I receive payment
or you can pay $1.49 for electronic chapbook in .pdf format. You'll get the poetry chapbook as instant download! I'll take these payment methods, totally safe and secure:
Pay by PayPal or credit card, your choice! Either way it is 100% safe and secure. Read PayPal's privacy policy here. So what are you waiting for? There's nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Give Me The Immediate Download, Allen!
Hey Allen, I'd Like You To Mail Me A Print Copy Of Your Chapbook! (Sorry, there is a $1.05 mail and handling fee; it's unavoidable!)
Hi. I'm Allen Taylor, author of the poetry chapbook Going Dutch. I'm going to keep it short and simple. 
