NATCHEZ — A conversation with David Michael Ferry about his experiences with the war in Iraq was all the inspiration Mark LaFrancis needed.

LaFrancis also knew he had to do something with the stories and information that was being told to him. He felt the need to preserve the experiences he was so privileged to hear.

LaFrancis’ head was spinning with ideas, but he wasn’t sure what medium he should use.

“I could have written essays or articles or prose. I could have written something like a novel,” LaFrancis said.

But he decided to forgo those options and instead tackle poetry.

His first book of poetry, “In Their Boots: Poems Inspired by Soldiers and their loved ones, Book One: Soldiers,” was recently released.

Three other books, with poetry focused on families of soldiers, soldiers at home and personal reflections from LaFrancis, are in the works and scheduled to be released in the coming months.

After his initial conversation with Ferry, a former Marine sniper, he had numerous conversations with other veterans and their families in hopes of retelling their stories.

“The more people I talked to, the more I started to listen and talk less,” LaFrancis said. “Their simple stories were significant. I wanted to put a face on our soldiers.”

One poem recounts the story of a Dustin Goldsmith, a Marine, on the road to Baghdad. Goldsmith’s convoy passed an Iraqi boy with a donkey, and Goldsmith had an overwhelming urge to ride the donkey.

His vehicle stopped and Goldsmith overcame language barriers to strike a deal to trade a flashlight for a ride on the donkey. Goldsmith and his friends named the donkey Pedro after the adventure.

“He was in full gear on this small donkey, and the donkey wouldn’t go anywhere,” LaFrancis said.

While the story of Pedro the donkey is a funny tale, there are other poems that are more emotional.

One such story is the poem that recounts a soldier’s emotion over never holding his infant daughter.

The poem “Kallie” tells the story of a soldier’s tattoos serving as a daily reminder of the daughter who was born and died before he returned from Iraq.

The book is 132 pages of free verse poems that recount the stories that LaFrancis heard. The poetry has no regular rhythm or rhyming scheme, but LaFrancis said that was intentional.

“I wanted to make poetry accessible,” LaFrancis said. “I wanted people to look at (the book) and think, ‘I can get through this.”

His book of poetry is currently on sale at www.booklocker.com and is also available through Ingram Book Group. The books are $12.95 each.

Copies will be on sale locally during a book signing from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Natchez Mall. Books purchased at the book signing will be $12.50 each.

Appropriately enough, the signing will be in front of the World War II photo exhibit that is on display at the mall.

LaFrancis, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said veterans hold a special place in his heart and hopes this project has a positive impact.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to a veteran related charity.

“My goal is to inspire, educate and motivate,” LaFrancis said. “The last part is motivate people to do something for our soldiers and veterans.”