More Regrets Than Glories: A Collection of Dark Poetry
Rick Powell
Independently Published, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-329-51719-6
Ebook, 79 ppg.
Most collections of horror poetry tend to offer the same tried and true scare tactics to create a terrifying reading experience, but that’s not what will happen for readers of the horror poetry book More Regrets Than Glories: A Collection of Dark Poetry by Rick Powell. Here we are served a collection of unique and terrifying tales of ghosts, monsters, killers, and characters who are hellbent on revenge. These poems are filled with dark atmospheres, creepy moods, and chilling narratives. It is certainly a good collection of horror poetry to read either during spooky season or just to enjoy some well-written horror poetry.
Also unlike most collections of horror poetry, the scare effects are not overdone. There is no “gore for gore sake” and it is just the right amount of horror without pandering to a stereotype. Additionally, the dark tone in many of the poems pulled me in and kept me reading until the very end, often with one last shot of a horrifying realization or a surprising twist at the end.
There are a variety of dark poems in this book. From poems about ghosts, a siren, and a woman murdering her husband on their wedding night, these poems offer chills and thrills for readers.
The poem “Stair” takes place on a decrepit staircase, but that is not the only thing the person in the poem needs to work about. For something haunts that staircase. Something that incites fear and leaves the poor soul in terror.
Something that is otherworldly and no longer living.
“I climbed to the first landing, the steps felt like bloated flesh,
The rails were cold and clammy, like a cadaver’s lonely kiss,
I turned and considered ascending, the cold enveloping my form.
When I saw a ghostly figure, like a flickering candle in the mist.
Her countenance was malignant, there was evil in her eyes,
A pallor of the palest white, her white hair a floating haze,
My eyes were open wide, I could not breathe to let out a scream,
My whole body turned to stone, I could not break her demonic gaze.”
This poem reminded me of how there are many haunted staircases in houses with ghostly sightings. In this particular case, although fictional, such a haunting is captured well.
The poem “Nadia” was terrifying! At first, I thought that Nadia was a ghost haunting some location, but she is more than that. She is a vengeful spirit, one which wives suspicious of their husbands can solicit a service from. This poem is written so well and it’s almost like a warning to unfaithful husbands of a REAL ghost to be aware of.
“The Muse” is another good poem, and one this writer could relate to. A writer’s muse has a way of giving us ideas when we are preoccupied with other things, then it is MIA when we need it.
“When I want you, you are never there,
Being evasive for what seems like ages,
I try to figure out a way to call you forth,
I search unnamed books, I scan yellowed pages.
I sometimes walked through a desolate forest,
Hoping, vainly, to hear a hint of your tread,
Knowing your footfall would not touch dead leaves,
Praying your voice will echo in my lonely head.”
I also enjoyed reading the poem “Notches” because it has an ending that I didn’t expect. I love how the supposed “victim” refuses to accept their fate. The kind of action taken was most fitting.
“The Midnight Hour” was another creepy poem. It sent chills down my spine! Powell really excelled at creating a dark, spooky mood in this particular poem. Reading about the dark creatures that lurk at the midnight hour made me want to stay inside during such a time!
I loved the way the poem “The Coachman” ended. Some people may not like open endings in poems, but I enjoy how it leaves the ending up to the reader. It is not really an end in itself, but more of a prelude to what lies ahead. The poem gives enough clues for the reader to understand what is happening and who the coachman really is. Once again, the setting and mood in this poem are excellent.
“She Reads Poems to Stones” is another poem with a surprising ending. But unlike “Notches,” this particular ending is not so dark or sinister. Yes, it is chilling, but also, not so unexpected, given that it is set in a cemetery. In a way, it makes sense, though the realization is a sad one.
There are so many other great poems in this book: “I Walk Alone in the Dark” and “Placebo” and “Shall We Dance” and “Lathe” and “I Hold Her Hand” and “Cairn” and “Party” are just some of the really good ones that stayed with me. The poems are dark, creepy, and sinister. They will leave many haunting impressions on the reader long after they finish reading this book.
More Regrets Than Glories is a collection of dark and terrifying poetry
that will haunt and frighten readers. Filled with horrors of the supernatural
and sinister, these poems offer a chilling atmosphere sure to be enjoyed by
fans of horror poetry. Read at your own risk, if you dare!
Five stars
Disclaimer: I purchased this ebook and this review is entirely voluntary.
