Yost, son collaborate on project

Dana Yost has had seven books published to date, but none had more meaning than the most recent one, a collaborative effort with his son, Luke.
The book entitled "From my Porch" centers on six topics that include several photos taken by Luke, as well as poems from Dana that pertain to the particular topics.
"This one does mean the most to me because it's with Luke," said Dana, a 1980 Minneota graduate. "I'm really proud of this new collaboration. It's mostly Luke's book, but I'm happy to have contributed."
Dana, a former longtime newspaper reporter and editor, published his first book of poetry entitled "Grace" in 2008. That was followed by a poetry/essay book in 2010 called "The Right Place", a book about the Southwest Minnesota State University tennis team called "Higher Level" was launched in 2012, a poetry/essay book called "Good Shepherds" followed in 2013, "1940: Journal of a Midwestern Town, Story of an Era" came in 2017, and "In Your Head", a poetry book was published in 2020.
This collaboration was Luke's idea and his father was "all in" when asked to join in the project.
"Luke called and asked me if I wanted to do this with him," said Dana, who lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Rae. "He has 54 photos in the book in all and the photos have to do with each of the six topics. He asked me to write six poems to match the photos."
The topics include: Changes of seasons, the George Floyd tragedy, looking back at a year of COVID, holidays, political signs, and places of solitude.
This is one of the poems Dana wrote for the book, entitled "Solitude".

There are places I go
that I will not tell you about.
They belong to me, are my hideaways.
Even in this new town I have discovered some: sheltered,
under trees, or in the shadows of old buildings, where, like a nomad in the desert—maybe one of my ancestors, if you believe the genealogy blood tests— I find solitude, find peace within my worried, boiling soul. I won’t stay long, but long enough to quiet myself, steady myself, make myself ready to face the day.

One of Luke's photos included in the book was selected for a juried art show in St. Paul.
Luke, a 2006 Lakeview High School graduate, lives in Minneapolis and employed as a mental health therapist.
The self-published book is 67 pages and cost $20. It can be ordered on amazon.com. The Mascot will also be carrying some copies of the book soon that will be available for sale.