Dan Absalonson's Blog

Poetry is likely best produced

By scratching away at parchment thick

Across creamy tan 

Not xerox white

The corners curled not pressed flat and tight 

With quill freshly dipped

In ink as black as night

However 

This deviation distraction device 

Is always by my side

Or in my pocket on a ride

Continuously within reach

To scroll and swipe and waste my time

Or tap away and write lines

True and deep

My thumbs pecking here and there

Rather than the usual fair

Of older tools full of analog texture and flair

Yet this thin thing can produce art

In the form of words trailing after each other 

I’ve read on ways the different ways you write

Can interact with your brain

In different ways

But as for me, a tool is a tool

And while it’s true handwritten notes

Stick in my mind with thicker strokes

To compose upon a glowing screen

With dancing tips of fat fingers flying

Is lovely in the way its speed

Just keeps up with the words

Flying from my mind 

To the muscles in my hands

To the symbols made of pixels

On my pocket notebook sized

Computer of a popular brand

In this 85th episode, I review Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Listen to hear why even though this is a book I never thought I would have been interested in, it was one of the best most well written books I've ever had the pleasure to read. I'm glad an old friend recommended it to me.

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Buy "Purple Hibiscus" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Hibiscus-audiobook/dp/B004XUNVMM

Check out the author's website:

https://www.chimamanda.com/

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

In this 84th episode, I review Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. Not only did I really enjoy this fun and easy to read urban fantasy, but my kids are HUGE fans of the series. I've spent most of my audible credits on the books in this series for them lately!

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Buy "Keeper of the Lost Cities" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Lost-Cities-Shannon-Messenger-ebook/dp/B005C776A8

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

You may have noticed a few new poems I've published on this site recently. I stumbled across this amazing project where a renown guitar player lays down gorgeous tracks beneath a master poet reciting poems. It's called Strings and Sonnets. Check it out. After listening to these prodigious poems, I was inspired to try my hand a few again. It's been quite some time since I've written a poem.

Source: https://philkeaggyfriends.bandcamp.co...

I am now inspired to record my poems and then write instrumental music to go with them just in the way these fine gentlemen accomplished their resplendent album. I'm sure I'll put them out on the podcast and here on the website as I get each one made. It is a project I'm very excited about. Now I just have to learn how to get all of the other projects I'm excited about finished and shipped, because real artists ship. While I have published many things, there are also many things on my back burner or half finished that I must get to eventually!

There is a subtle peace In putting shovel to driveThe spread blanket of white lain down Softens the sounds aroundDampens footfalls and traffic beyondWhile you work a steady line
Plastic tip or metal stripMeet concrete beneath the brilliant sheet The constant pushThe quiet scrapeAccented by plush plopsDripping from your broad toolAs piles are made beside
Though this way is greaterBoth in effort and in timeThan following behindA quick cacophonous machineIt affords a space for the soul to quiet down 
Racing thoughts fall like flakesAs your body works your mind restsDecrease the layer and raise up the heapsWhile you defrost the cake beside your carportYour mind settles Your body finds the rhythmOf the shovel and the snow And the pavement below

The in-between times don’t pass with ease

They feel unreal

Like a dream

You’re not there yet 

But your mind is 

It’s left you here to scour the possibilities ahead

But you must stay behind

Your time has not yet come but lingers on

So you count down the days

And cherish the last of the special moments

Wondering how you’ll move on

Spilling tears mourning the loss moving on will bring 

Only to wish it was over and done with hours later

Attempting to be here and now 

To squeeze out every last drop of this experience that has been 

But soon will never be again

It’s the end

Of an era

You’re moving on to the next chapter

But you haven’t quite made it to the bit of blank page 

The part you briefly stare at before turning to the next one

The next page with its chapter heading

Cluing you in to what’s in store

A battle in your chest between desires to turn the page

And to linger here just a little more

In the meanwhile time goes all funny on you

The counted days seem too many

Yet you know they will be gone before you’re ready

This is the tension

The longing to be there already

While wanting to soak in the last 

Of what has become your new normal

You know you will miss

You love where you are

Yet long for where you'll be

In this 83rd episode, I review My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. This is one of the most well written books I have ever read. Have a listen to hear why the pose was so magical and the journey with the young artist Asher Lev was so fantastic.

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Buy "My Name Is Asher Lev" on Amazon:

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

In this 82nd episode, I review The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell. He's one of my favorite authors. Listen to hear why I loved this great departure for him into a modern tale set in a great low fantasy low steaks urban fantasy. If you like this, you'll also love his cozy Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels!

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Buy "The Wizard's Butler" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Butler-Nathan-Lowell-ebook/dp/B0865326GF

Check out the author's website:

https://nathanlowell.com/

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

In this 81st episode, I review The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Have a listen to hear why I liked this classic detective novel which kicks off the series and why the audiobook was so great!

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Buy "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Classics/dp/1734452595

Check out the author's website:

https://www.agathachristie.com/

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

In this 80th episode, I review On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. Check this episode out to hear why I loved this book because of how it was so different from many other books. When a cool author with similar interests to me writes a book he would love to read, it works out really well for me too. Kids will also love this book!

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Play or download the .mp3

Buy "On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CCW61R

Check out the author's website:

https://www.andrew-peterson.com

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman