Arik Bjorn is a public librarian, and was the 2016 Democratic Party candidate for South Carolina's Second Congressional District. His writing has been featured at Forward Progressives and Patheos. He has been read by lots of folks in 190 countries.

Bjorn holds degrees in archaeology, ancient languages and library science. He is the author of six previous books, including a short story collection, "Birds of a Feather," as well as a book about his experience during Campaign 2016, "So I Ran for Congress." His most recent book, "Show & Tell at World's End," is a COVID memoir.

"Pocket Lint" is his first book of verse.

From the author's introduction:

"Language is my love. What if I weaved words through an abstract loom, and the aesthetic result resembled Babar hanging from a bent steel crane? That is the risk of poetry—of sin.

"I have no idea whether my poetry is good or bad, whether it's worth the while of any reader. I know accomplished poets, yet I would never burden any of them with an invitation to write an introduction for this work. My verse deserves no vicar.

"As to title, why 'Pocket Lint' instead of, say, 'Slaying Pachyderms'? If I'm being honest with myself (what other approach to poetry is there?), what are harrying mammoths to me are perhaps just tucked-away dust bunnies to you. Language has survived many onslaughts, many sieges. Mine won't be the last.

"Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I didn't ask for these phantoms that only exit my head by way of nocturnal keyboard stabs. Poetry is also self-defense. Sometimes one sins to save oneself."