Wagner's Writings

      It was the summer of good ol' '22 that I learned a valuable lesson: Happiness is not at the bottom of an empty bottle.      I haven't done a blog post in a hot minute. It's been a busy summer... Busy year. Thought I would change that now that I hit a milestone I kind of kept close to my chest. November 22nd marks the 100th day I maintained sobriety from alcohol. On August 14th, I awoke from a heavy night of drinking the day before and I was told of the trouble I had caused a friend and the mess I had made in their house. And I couldn't remember a damn minute of it. But I'll paint a pretty picture with the details I do recall and that summer leading up to it.      There's this problem I have/had regarding alcohol, is that when I start drinking for the night I really have a hard time stopping or knowing when I've had enough. Binge drinking just seemed so fun because feeling all loopy and silly felt amazing because in my day to day life,I ...

    With my book being out for nearly three weeks at this point, I thought it'd be fun to talk about each of them, what inspired them, facts surrounding the poems/book in general. It's not too late to snag a copy! Just contact me for one and I'll either deliver it or mail it to ya. $5 is all I ask, friends. So let's begin.  ISOLATIONIST - So the title itself is a reference to when someone believes a country doesn't allow any visitors or intervention of Japan would seclude itself off from the rest of the world from 1603 - 1868, also known as Sakoku. I was reading up on the subject during lockdown when I came across that term 'isolationist'.       It felt like an appropriate term even before the lockdowns started because I felt I was unhealthily becoming a recluse and not really interacting with people like I used to. I was isolating myself from everyone because I didn't want the heaviness of my depression to bum my friends out. That's been an ongoing ...

     So ISOLATIONIST has been out for two weeks already. Hard to believe since it's felt like it JUST came out. You want to know something insane?? I've made enough funds from the book to not only fund the next one BUT it completely funded the NEXT project I have in mind after that (whichever one that may be). If all goes to the way I'd like it to, I'd LOVE for it to be a comic book project. Alas, I am not the captain that is steering my destiny. I just ride where the wind guides the sails, y'know?      But the reception has been completely beyond my expectations. Lots of greats feedback, people sharing their thoughts on their favorite poems, what they got out of it, and lots of other positive things. But nearly. Every. Single. Person. Had said the exact same thing to me regarding my mini-adventure and this book:       That they're proud of me.       Proud that I did it. That I'm going out of my way to chase my dreams...

ISOLATIONIST Poems by Cody Wagner DEDICATED TO Richard “Richie” Wagner,  Brian Guile,  and Ryan Newcomb; Those that encouraged me to chase my dreams  but are no longer here. And to those still here, cheering me on Thank you, dearly.  You inspire me to keep chasing. "All Eyes Pierce"  All eyes pierce me with their indifference. I once viewed crowds as a sickness  to steer clear of to avoid infection. Their affection falsified,  Only as a guise to mask their discontent  and the bile spewing from putrid mouths, To avoid the biting down of venomous fangs. I made it a point to section myself off,  To not be bothered,  To avoid the hurt of their dagger-filled glances. But their second chances have ran out after one too many times.  Now they look to me no longer. They themselves can't bother with the idea of me. Me, just out in the open. Me, pushed to the side. Just me.  Alone.  Forgotten.  “Overstay”  I do not wish to ...