Dan Burns’ A NECESSARY EXPLOSION is a collection of seventy-five poems written that  cover a wide variety of themes, including music, writing, life changes, and relationships. Burns has a straightforward, humble way of writing that makes his poems easy to understand. On the flip side,  many of the works lack the nuance and subtlety of great poetry. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that the book is best suited to readers who aren’t looking for the typical enigmatic experience that most high brow poetry provides. The collection also features beautiful and  dreamlike illustrations by Daniele Serra, which add an extra dose of artistry to its pages.

Part of the draw of the poems in A NECESSARY EXPLOSION is their personal nature. Some of Burns’s poems read like a stream of consciousness that he has put to paper, and those innermost thoughts have emotional power behind them. Burns uses his poetry to reflect on some of his most influential memories and experiences. His poetry can transport readers to places like Spain, Paris, and Ireland, and show them how those travels have helped him form his identity. Burns uses his poetry to share his perspective with his readers in a way that is both clear and effective. In some of his poems, Burns speaks directly to his audience. His poetry takes on a motivational tone, reminding readers that “it is your turn to grasp the ship’s wheel” and make decisions that will affect the future. Sometimes his optimistic messages can come off as over the top, but the sincerity behind these encouragements mostly makes them seem uplifting instead of cheesy. Burns aims to be a “beacon in troubled waters”—and his poetry certainly achieves that effect.

Readers of all levels of poetry knowledge will be able to enjoy A NECESSARY EXPLOSION, though it is perhaps best suited to readers who eschew the ephemeral complexity of traditional poetry. As Burns says in “Why Write Poetry?”, the seventy-first poem from this collection, “anyone with an ounce of courage can write a short poem”. Burns’s poetry doesn’t aspire to genius, but the collection is still a brave creation that will inspire casual aspiring poets to put pen to paper.

Dan Burns’ A NECESSARY EXPLOSION is easy to read and filled with inspiring, relatable poems and while the collection lacks the subtlety and nuance that makes truly great poetry, it’s clear that the author has a budding talent for conveying his thoughts and feelings through verse.

~Stephani Hren for IndieReader