Michael Stephen Daigle's Blog

They walk past the park,

Down the hill where the industrial gas of the chemical plant

 once stained the air and burned her nose.

Then a right, up the hill to the house with all the flowers.

A right at  their house, a right turn to the porch, up three steps to open the  door, step inside.

They walk past the park,

Then a left to fire station, where they stop a moment and she gazes at the flag.

They walk past the park.

Her gaze from a puzzled face is  direct, focused on the  horizon.

One stiff step after another.

I,  with my cane, nod a greeting.

One day they walked past the  hospital on its busy street.

Her eyes wide with panic at the honking and truck rumbles.

Did he need to tell her that was where their children were born?

One day she walked alone.

Did she turn at the fire station and wonder at the flag?

Did she hear some high school  band fill the empty street with marching feet and brass and drums and remember cheering.

Moments later he was running  after her.

They walk together past the park.

Then a right past the houses that have changed colors.

Then a left past the empty lot where the house burned down.

Then a right past the tall fence where the big dog always barked.

They walk, pacing, measuring, trying to remember, as if feet on asphalt, the smell of newly mowed  lawns,  the friendly shout of a neighbor, will open the memory to recognize what their life together was like.

Remember, he says. This is all you.

It is the last thing he can give her.

They walk past the empty park, where the ball field was carved from the once lush grass.

They walk past the silent park, the infield brown with swirling dust.

Crows squabble over morsels in the torn, gray grass.

Does she hear the joyful scream of her daughter who finally hit the ball to the outfield and ran and stumbled on  little legs to first base where she  jumped up and down?

The left turn to the fire station is near first base.

They turn, marking the trail at the fire station  with the  flag;

 they turn again, then turn again,  taking the path home.

The post Walking through memory appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

Read to me.

Tell me stories

That cling to my  soul,

Words that rise from despair to hope,

That lead from the gloom of isolation

To a rambunctious shouting celebration of you.

Tell of the moments

The things no one knows

The ones that leave me guessing,

But lift your face into a smile.

That follow your eyes from barren darkness to roiling light,

That makes the world as  big as your heart.

Straddle laughing in the white dress the branch of a tree.

Toss down tales of wonder.

Wet the world  like a spring rain

And watch it rise in obnoxious, orgasmic joy.

The post In a white dress telling tales appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

Voice like a breeze that teases

Sunlight smile that glows past darkness

A sudden touch finger to finger

The things that when alone recall her.

Eyes both dark and open;

Passion sparked

But questioned.

Then head back laughing,

Laughing in a speckled white dress

Owning the moment.

A laugh that hides worry

A laugh that calls out a challenge

Breaks open the day,

Crumbles the walls between

Some unsettled love.

Her laugh, a breathless touch

Says I am.

The post In the white dress she says I am appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

Touch

Time

Touch

Earth

Touch

Rain that flows

Like memory.

Touch sadness

Then joy

Forgiveness

You offered.

Touch silence

Hollow voiced

Lost in disappointment.

Touch the beginning

Simple desire and confusion.

Touch absence.

Time

A cry alone

Thinking no one saw or heard.

Touch

The grace

That only you posses

White dress both shield and invitation

Reach

Yes

Touch

The post The grace of the white dress appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

It’s been quite a month of book festivals.

A note of thanks to all who stopped by to chat, tell stories, or buy my books. Those are the moments that make the time at the events worthwhile. Thanks to Belvidere, Randolph, New Providence and Passaic County.

Now it’s on to Collingswood, Easton and Woodbridge.

I’ll have for signing and sales the Jersey-based Frank Nagler Mysteries.

The series, set in New Jersey, featuring Detective Frank Nagler, “One of modern fiction’s expertly drawn detectives,” according to Kirkus Review.

Oct 4: Collingswood Book Festival, 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m. I’m at Booth 105 on Haddon Avenue.

Oct. 13 to 19: Easton Book Festival

Nov. 15: Woodbridge book festival, 11 to 3 p.m.

The Frank Nagler Mysteries are: “The Swamps of Jersey,” “A Game Called Dead,” “The Weight of Living,” “The Red Hand,” and “Dragony Rising.”

“One of modern fiction’s expertly drawn detectives:” Kirkus Reviews

“A Game Called Dead” was named a Runner-Up in the Shelf Unbound 2016 Best Indie Book contest.

“The Weight  of Living” was awarded First Place for mysteries  in the 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Award contest;

Named A Notable 100 Book, Shelf Unbound 2018 Indie Book Awards;

Named a Distinguished Favorite, 2018  Independent Press Awards.

Named a Distinguished Favorite in the 2018 Big NYC Book Contest.

Named a Finalist in the 2019 Book Excellence Awards.

Named A Gold Star Award winner in the 2020 Elite Choice Book Awards

Named a Book Award Winner in 2021 by Maincraft Media Fiction Book Awards

“The Red Hand” was named a Distinguished Favorite in the 2019 Big NYC Book Contest

Named Second Place winner for mysteries in the 2019 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards

Named a Notable 100 Book in the 2019 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards

Named a Distinguished Favorite  in the 2020 Independent Press Awards

A Nominee in the 2020 TopShelf Book Awards

Named A Gold Star Award winner in the 2020 Elite Choice Book Awards

Dragony Rising was awarded First Place  for Mysteries in the 2022 Royal Dragonyfly Book Awards;

 named a Notable 100 Indie Book in the 2022 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards;

 A Distingished Favorite in the 2023 Independent Press Awards.

 A Distinguished Favorite in the  2023 Big NYC Book Awards

The post Festivals: Collingswood, Oct. 4; then Easton appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

I’m looking forward to participating with a roster of talented authors at these upcoming events.

I’ll be discussing and selling my award-winning Frank Nagler mystery series.

The series, set in New Jersy, featuring Detective Frank Nagler, “One of modern fiction’s expertly drawn detectives,” according to Kirkus Review.

A note of thanks to all who stopped by to chat, tell stories, or buy my books. Those are the moments that make the time at the events worthwhile.

Sept 27: 4th annual Passaic County Book Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weasel Brook Park, Clifton.

Oct 4: Collingswood Book Festival, 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m.

Oct. 13 to 19: Easton Book Festival

Nov. 15: Woodbridge book festival, 11 to 3 p.m.

The post Festivals: On to Passaic County, Collingswood appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

I’m looking forward to participating with a roster of talented authors at these upcoming events.

I’ll be discussing and selling my award-winning Frank Nagler mystery series.

The series, set in New Jersy, featuring Detective Frank Nagler, “One of modern fiction’s expertly drawn detectives,” according to Kirkus Reviews.

Sept. 20 New Providence Book Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Providence Historical Society, Salt Box Museum, 1350 Springfield  Ave.

Sept 27: 4th annual Passaic County Book Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weasel Brook Park, Clifton.

Oct 4: Collingwood Book Festival, 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m.

Oct. 13 to 19: Easton Book Festival

Nov. 15: Woodbridge book festival, 11 to 3 p.m.

The post Upcoming festivals: New Providence, Passaic County appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

I’m looking forward to participating with a roster of talented authors at these upcoming events.

I’ll be discussing and selling my award-winning Frank Nagler mystery series.

The series, set in New Jersy, featuring Detective Frank Nagler, “One of modern fiction’s expertly drawn detectives,” according to Kirkus Reviews.

Sept. 6: 37th Belvidere Victorian Day, Garett Wall Park, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Author’s Alley is located on Third Street.

Sept. 13: Randolph Country Fair, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veterans Community Park,100 Calais Road.

Sept. 20 New Providence Book Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Providence Historical Society, Salt Box Museum, 1350 Springfield  Ave.

Sept 27: 4th annual Passaic County Book Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weasel Brook Park, Clifton.

Oct 4: Collingwood Book Festival, 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m.

Oct. 13 to 19: Easton Book Festival

Nov. 15: Woodbridge book festival, 11 to 3 p.m.

The post Upcoming: Weeks of book festivals appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

When the ocean rose

they danced mad in the flood.

When the wind took the trees

They crawled up the broken branches and howled.

When the mountains fell

they kicked at the rubble.

They put their ear to the sea and heard the silence  

Because the  blue whales sing no more.

She stands with you

The white dress stained with blood of the troubled world

When the marching boots grow loud.

Stands with  you

Says time is change

Some topsy-turvy leap

Through reason and pain

To the moment.

Fingers

Lips

Rise.

Breath

Touch

Peace.

The post White dress and peace appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.

In a world of preaching

In a world of scorn

She whispers.

In a world of war

In a world of darkness

She offers.

In a world of crying

A world of screams

She sings.

In a world of sorrow

She knows.

Sits in sunlight

White dress wrapped in her arms at her knees

Eyes dark, because that’s where her pain settles;

That thing you left behind

And not have come back to claim.

The post White dress sorrow appeared first on Michael Stephen Daigle.