Dark Parchments: Midnight Curses and Verses by Michael H. Hanson

Dark Parchments: Midnight Curses and Verses Reviews

• 
  Richard Groller

  A wonderful, macabre, thought-provoking adventure into the hidden recesses and ghostly realms of Mike Hanson's dark and deeply fertile mind. Imaginative, not overly frightening, but sufficiently grim to delight the devotee of shadow worlds, apparitions, gloomy twilight and the denizens that inhabit it. Kudos!
• 
  Ben Eads

  Dark Parchments does what every good poetry collection should: elicit emotions from the reader they didn’t even know they had, or worse, forgotten. Or, as is the case with this collection, send shivers up our spines as we’re treated to dark, horrible things that dwell in the darkest depths of nature—but sometimes that very darkness lies within us.
  
  I haven’t read poetry in too many years to count. However, I’ve read three poetry collections this year and each one has left me embarrassed for this transgression. As the author of the foreword asks, “Where are the lyrical poets of today?” Mr. Hanson has proved that not only can he write lyrical poetry, but poetry that speaks directly to our heart—forcing us to look in the mirror for what ails us, challenges us.
  
  To say this collection of poetry is emotive would be an understatement. Mr. Hanson’s fine collection will have you looking over your shoulder during an evening stroll; second guess our sanity when the rain falls…and is that something squirming right outside my window? One thing is certain, it’s a top-rate collection from an author whose career is destined to be a long one. Words have power…and the author understands this better than most of us. It’s one of the highest compliments I can give.
  
• 
  Joshua Gage

  The foreword to Dark Parchments compares Hanson to Shelley. I think the more obvious comparison would be to Poe. Both poets write poems that play off gothic tropes; both poets use shorter, lyrical forms; the last poem in Hanson’s collection, a poem about a young woman who drowns in the sea, is even titled “Anna-Lee.” The connection between the two is obvious. However, whereas Poe’s use of sound and meter made for a chilling tone, or even at their worst (“For Annie” and “To -- -- --. Ulalume. A Ballad” are the two most obvious that I can think of right now), tightly woven sound pieces, Hanson’s lack of craft makes for awkward, clunky poems that fall apart upon reading. So, while this is a visually appealing book, the poetry it contains will probably not catch the interest of any but the most fervent readers of speculative poetry.
• 
  AJ Wilcox

  If you've read any of Michael's verse (as opposed to his stories) in the past you know he is the Poet Laureate of the online community. His poems are usually bright optimistic and sometimes romantic missives, full of imagery. Much like the introduction to the old TV series “Tales from the Darkside”
  Man lives in the sunlit world of what he believes to be reality.
  But...there is, unseen by most, an underworld, a place that is just as real,
  but not as brightly lit... a darkside.
  Michael also has his darkside that he expresses eloquently in these 85 short poems. The depth of emotion he can reach in two short pages is exceptional. There is not one poem in this collection that I did not enjoy, but I believe “In The Trees” was my favorite, or perhaps “Shadow Puppets” or “Her Pain? After you read these you will have a difficult time deciding yourself.
• 
  Cenusa Sasch

  Every time I read a Michael Hanson book it is a pleasure.
  
  I'm glad that he exist and that we could enjoy his writings.
  I discovered him on Facebook where his poems came from different paintings.
  
  Sometime I'm sorry that I stay far from US and it is difficult to me to any event, but for sure, if I'll be in US and he has an event I'll be there.
  
  Just read some poems written by him and you'll wish his book!
• 
  Betty

  Although this book does not contain the most chirpiest subject matter, one that I am not too familiar with reading, must say I enjoy Michael Hansons' poems. He has a way of conveying and making plain the meandering wonderings we all have from time to time. He lays bare, with complete honesty the deep questions we all carry in our heart, with utmost simplicity partnered with the profound. Reminds me of impressionist paintings. Simple, stark,beautiful and .moving. Worth a read!
• 
  Cindy Adler

  A different direction for a poet who excels in penning romantic and bucolic verse, Michael H. Hanson's DARK PARCHMENTS is a juicy thrill ride from one tasty heart shock to the next. I just couldn't put this poetry collection down until I had read it from beginning to end. Four and one/half stars all the way.
• 
  Sunita

  Michael Hanson writes such lyrically perfect poems that it feels good even to shiver with horror while reading the chillingly haunted poems from"Dark Parchments". Comparing his work to that of Shelley is quite right. His poems take you on a haunted journey ...His control over rhyme, rhythm and meter is amazing. A scary read....but very well written.