Jules reviews an anthology of horror-fueled poetry from the deepest depths of the human heart…
Poetry and Horror both work to elicit strong emotions from their readers. Often times a message is also fighting to be delivered. There are some genre of horror that diverge from this—hey, extreme—but at its core, we’re working through something here. Poetry begins to diverge ever so slightly in the sense that it becomes deeply personal for the writer.
While many authors follow the token advice: Write what you know. I may dedicate my horror novel to my nana who raised me and told me folk tales of my Native and Mexican Heritage, but the story isn’t about me. Poets are literally bleeding their hearts onto the page for you. Something has moved them so deeply that a statement must be made.
Which makes Sleeve of Hearts, edited by Lindsey Goddard, perfectly named.
In just 139 pages, the 52 poets and their pieces helped add my own heart to the sleeve. My heart beat with theirs. My heart bled with theirs. It turned to stone for some of them. Many of these authors also write, review, edit, and actively participate in the horror realm. Some of the names would even be familiar in the Memento Mori Ink family (Hey Pixie, Shane, Jyl, and Aj)!
The beautiful thing about a poetry anthology is you can take such wildly different and beautiful pieces to create this eclectic collage that brings you from highs to lows in waves. I felt the pain of loss from love, friendship, life… Then there was the experiences of people’s lives. Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes or walking in their shoes. Learning to build walls, but also understanding when to build a door.
Goddard truly created something beautiful and seamless between the pages. Each poem flows from one until the next with ease. The cover itself is raw, indicating the vulnerability and feelings a reader is going to experience once they dive in. Each poem varies in length, some only a few lines long and others telling a story over pages and within uniquely crafted stanzas.
Sleeve of Hearts highlights the deepest and most aching parts of the human soul. Some of them show feelings of entrapment and others show those who have risen like a phoenix from a flame to enact revenge. If you’re someone who likes to enjoy bite-sized pieces, feel deep emotion, and need a quick read, go pick up Sleeve of Hearts. You may just discover your new favorite author or poet in there, too.
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