Today's  Writing Community continues to receive complaints about poetry.com. Please note that in March of 2009 the domain poetry.com was purchased by self-publishing house Lulu. Lulu.com and Lulu-Poetry are not affiliated in any way with the former owners of poetry.com (International Library of Poetry) which has apparently gone out of business. Should you wish for your poetry to be removed from poetry.com, you can send a request to removal-request@poetry.com.

Date: Mon 9/29/2008 3:31 AM

I am in angst over this site changing the copyright date of my works. By changing it to this year (2008) everyone thinks I have uploaded it then. I wrote some poems several years ago which was about a particular man. I then decided to upload two to this site in 2006. No problem. But now my poem has been Googled by future employers and men connected to me in senior positions. Because they see it as being released in 2008 and the poem mentions "one year or more" it leads them into believing the poem is about them. And because they don't know me very well it is causing a major concern for me all because this company changed a copyright date! The poem is a love poem so it was quite personal and back then it didn'tt matter who read it, as it was posted at a later date, but now when people read it for 2008 they assume that it may be about them and are therefore acting very apprehensive with me. What can I do?

Paula

Date: Thu 10/2/2008 9:31 PM

After reading your message about poetry.com and Noble House publishing, my stomach went for a nosedive to the floor. I just sent in a heartfelt poem about my son to Noble House publishing a couple of days ago, and the only thing I can think is I wish I could get it back because they don't deserve it. I wish I had seen this earlier, but at least I know now. Poets, PLEASE do not go through poetry.com; it is an absolute sham! I feel so used right now. I had always wanted to get published, to get noticed, and when I saw that first letter from them I was overjoyed. *sighs* But I'm just saying the same things over and over. Anyway, thank you again for correcting me for the future. I'll know better than to put my trust into something that seems so easy from now on.

Jade

Date: Sat 10/4/2008 2:10 PM

The pain of just finding out about this came 15mins. ago. My mom bragged to everyone she could find to tell them of all the awards I had been receiving. I would like to thank you for having so much information about this before I purchased anything. And I would like to say I feel you to everyone else whom has been deceived as I have.

Teagan

Date: Mon 11/10/2008 7:08 PM

I got a letter today from the Noble House wanting me to send money for a book to publish my poem but I went on the internet and found this. I have already sent them $49.95 for a plaque and haven't got it yet. Can I give my poem to you guys .

Ivory

Date: Tue 12/16/2008 12:54 PM

Noble House Poetry Book is a scam. Ordered a book, only to never receive the book. I ordered it from the internet, and I got no email confirmation, or a confirmation number for my order. I am so glad I have Navy Federal banking. I quickly filed a report, and after my bank got the run around from that company too, they quickly refunded me my money! I feel for those who lost money when purchasing it through a credit card, or money order.

Kim

Date: Tue 2/3/2009 3:45 AM

I read your email on Google about sending poems to poetry.com. I have received similar notifications about my poems. Every single one I have sent in have had the same response that you mentioned. I have a fairly good knowledge and love of poetry. I have a master's degree in literature and my thesis is about a Dutch poet. Up to now I have resisted ordering the publications they mentioned and ignored the extraordinary praise for my poems, some of which I thought very mediocre indeed and which I sent in on purpose to test the judges' skills in judging poetry.

Hanni

Date: Wed 4/22/2009 11:04 AM

I found your site regarding the scams of the Library of Poetry this morning. I have to say I fell victim to the Editors Choice Award many time but have never bought the Anthologies. Kind of funny I entered the contests they offered in hopes of winning the awarded funds to help support myself and my four children so I did find it odd that they would ask for money after each letter they sent promising me a place in the semi finalist list. I find today that the National Library of poetry has my poetry up for sale now without my permission and have promised purchasers an array of choices including my poetry on t-shirts, tote bags, memo pads, calendars, mouse pads, ect.. This is not what I had in mind for my poetry! Especially if it really isn't that good, I feel humiliated for a buck! I also feel ripped off in the sense that they could be making a fortune from my writings and have not offered me a red cent. I am a hard working person and have always dreamed of becoming a writer, instead I feel publicly humiliated and exposed. Once a person adds a poem to their site it can be difficult to retrieve writing that you feel is no longer how you feel! It's there forever! I think choosing to write poetry has not made my life more uplifting but rather has me feeling analyzed and judged. Many times I've written in the heat of a moment and after having time to think changed my opinion or feeling.. I've lost a lot of writing before I could tear it up or delete it, due to personal life problems. So I guess you could say I resist the urge to write now. Seems there is always someone waiting to snatch it up rip it part and call it their own. I've pretty much given up on the idea of a career in writing and I think the National Library of Poetry should be ashamed of themselves for stealing from other people's souls.

Sincerely, Julie

Date: Wed 4/22/2009 1:08 AM

Wow do I feel so let down. When I was about 18 yeas old I started to write my thoughts on paper. Even though I was working I still needed extra money, I was always short. While I was waiting for my ride to pick me up I thumbed threw a magazine and saw an advertisement to the ISP saying that there was a contest for the grand prize of 10,000 dollars. So I said "I should try this out." So I submitted a poem and got the same answer as the rest of the people on this. I have bought 3 books since then. To tell you the truth I logged on to look up poetry.com on Google to submit a poem, and came across this page. I'm so glad that I opened this page. Thank you for the info.

Joshua

Date: Mon 4/27/2009 6:14 AM

The only thing I ever wanted was validation for what I thought were my creative efforts. After submitting many poems to The International Library of Poetry, receiving countless \"Editors Choice\" awards, and even receiving 3rd prize (where was the checks?), I have come to realize that my skewered view of the world is right on target! I am disheartened to read how poetry scams have disillusioned and hurt so many. As usual, my bubble has burst. And here I was thinking I was accomplishing something. Silly me.....

Trina

Date: Sat 5/16/2009 9:23 PM

My name is Lisa Howard and last year I received a letter from noble house publishing requesting that I write a poem to be published in a book to be given out in spring 2009. I spent the book fee of 49.95 and I am still waiting on my book. I also wrote \'deep down within\' it was published last year at poetry.com I am so disappointed with these people. How can they scam people like that and shatter there dreams this way.

Date: Wed 5/20/2009 6:53 PM

I was 13 at the time. I had sent in a poem and felt so proud when I learned I was a semi finalist. I told my dad I wanted to buy the book. he said it was too much and I can buy it cheaper l8r. well I'm now 14 and have been looking for the book for about a year now. I found this web-site because I didn't really think they'd scam kids. whelp, I was wrong. I thank god every day for my family and I am so happy I didn't buy the book. I'm so sorry for those who did and I'm there with ya. I saw it in a magazine and got excited. I was foolish. now I don't think I can trust another website again. I thought it was really good.

Ab

Date: Wed 5/27/2009 4:50 AM

I was one of the people who send their work to this poetry.com thing, I really thought that they where real, only to find out that they are nothing but sick people getting poor poets hopes up for nothing. I wish they could close this business of theirs. I was ones a victim but never again. To poets out there don't give up there will be someone out there who will publish your poems. like me I love poetry and want to see my work published just hang in there.

Golokile

Date: Thu 5/28/2009 12:48 PM

I ordered five of the table top books called "Expressions" & one Plaque back in 2004 a grand total of a little over $300. I waited about two months and then I emailed and Mrs. Whitford replied that they were having money problem\'s and I would get my stuff within the next three month\'s so I waited finally after another 4 month's I called and guess what the number was no longer in service and I have yet to get my things.... One of the books was suppose to be my grandfather's Father's Day gift that upcoming year and guess what my grandfather passed away before he could ever see my poem and now I no longer write poem's why simple why should I write and get told that  they we are putting your poem in our book' and then after I spend what little money I get from disability to see my work only to be lied to foe nearly five years. I will never get my hopes up again for anything of that nature. Please be careful.

Chantilly

Date: Sat 5/30/2009 6:03 PM

I sent in various poems and I am receiving the books, but they are not in my name on the box or do they include my poetry. I am not sending any money and am kind of confused.

Papermaster

Date: Sat 6/6/2009 4:23 PM

Hi, my name is Awilda. I paid online 9-30-2008 for a book containing my poem that was supposed to be received in the Spring. To this day 9-10-09, I have not received an email, mailed notification or a phone call as to when I would received my book. I will seek legal action if not refunded or mailed book.

Date Sat 6/13/2009 3:51 PM

I have written many poems, and I won a silver coin worth 75$ about 4 or 5 years ago. I also won $100.00 on poetry.com jumble with words and you make something out of 20 pieces. I got paid both times, but never allowed them permission to use or print any of my poems. I also won this year on Feb.24th. I kept looking for my email stating that I won, and would I like to say a few words about it as I had done before on poetry win of $100. I never received this money in this year 2009 on Feb 24th for my win. I kept writing, and even called the number I used to get thru to them on, but it was a no working number now. So this is the only one that I got no pay for. I checked around, and found out that when you clicked on the poetry.com site, that it brought you to a site that bought poetry.com,called LuLu.com. I wrote to them, and they said that poetry.com went out of business. They could not pay me. Why then would they buy the web page that was poetry.com. Long story short, I wrote to Lulu.com, and asked them to remove all my poems. Lulu.com said they would and wrote to me a email which I am keeping for my reason of showing them again that they wrote to me and said they would remove all my poems. I will check and check till they remove all my personal poetry, or I will get an attorney to sue them. GOOD LUCK to all you people that got burnt, Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you will get resolve as soon as possible.

Debbie

Have you been a victim? Share your story of poetry.com/ Noble House Publishing with us to help us better protect poets. http://www.todayswriting.com/feedback.html