Thirty Six Poets explore the dark side of life and human nature
Excerpt
Introduction
George Wilhite
When Chris Bartholomew opened submissions to “Static Poetry” (she is taking submissions to a fourth volume as I write this) I approached her with the idea of a separate volume for “dark poetry.” I did not want to limit it to horror only or a theme like ghosts or
vampires, but rather wanted poets submitting to this volume to interpret the title theme in a broad sense, send me their “dark” stuff, perhaps the poems they would not consider sending elsewhere.
The results were amazing. While discovering some great new poets, I was also intrigued by the myriad ways this theme was explored. There are unsettling depictions of the macabre here, both vivid and skillfully suggested.
Most of the poems in this book are far more subtle. They blur the lines between “conventional”(or “traditional” might be a better word) and work that might be considered “speculative,” or belonging to a certain genre.
Many of the pieces are evocative of dark fiction tropes but can be interpreted in multiple ways (any fine poetry has this quality) and the experience a reader brings to the poem may determine whether it is considered “dark.”
Above all, regardless of subject matter or possible “genre,” these writers have
simply contributed some fine poetry. There is lots of free verse, a few prose poems; some poets have experimented with haiku or other traditional forms. Each poet has a distinct voice as well.
It has been a pleasure compiling this volume and I am opening submissions for
a second. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have.
Two of my included poems:
Oh, the Living
George Wilhite
They never leave well enough alone
The Living
This place has been ours for decades
Renovation, they say
Restoration—why?
There is nothing wrong with it
Now it is a place of commerce
Not a home
Security systems, annoying gadgets
And their ill-mannered offspring
Create disharmony
Time to strike back
This house is ours
We can play the poltergeist if pushed
Create some real discord
These Living won’t forget
We died far too young
And plan to be here a long time
This rude interruption
Of our chosen Eternity
Shall not be tolerated
Our friends and neighbors
Will gladly join in
Though such mischief
Gives us a bad reputation
It is a necessary evil
For the Living
Never learn
Ghouls
George Wilhite
A graveyard gourmet
If we get to it while fresh
Or wretched repast
In the end they'll all be dancin'--all them ones that didn't die.... Dance with me in the shadows amidst the lightning and the thunder, and all that nu-cu-lar debris. See the big bang from the other side, and then open that cellar door. Go down into
