31 Days of Horror: DarkER Ink proves horror and poetry are a good mix

I love horror films. I also love poetry. So of course, nothing is going to make me happier than reading a poetry anthology dedicated to horror poetry. DarkER Ink: A Poetry Anthology Sequel Inspired by Horror (Moon Tide Press, 2026) edited by Eric Morago and Alyssa Murray brings together over 60 poets who explore the world of terror in poetic verses.

Almost every aspect of horror is covered in this collection. Several sections of poetry are dedicated to monsters, including vampires, werewolves, and the undead (aka zombies). Another part of the book is dedicated to ghosts. The poems in all of these sections approach their subjects in a variety of styles and poetic forms. Narrative poems are prevalent. For instance, in the poem "Hauntings" by LeAnne Hunt, famous haunted houses including the Amityville House make an appearance by acting as metaphors for the narrator's fears "housed" in her head. In "The Knocking" Jessica Purdy explores her relationship with her sister by examining the memories of their explorations of their own "haunted" house. Still, I should note, that the book showcases more than narratives. For instance, the poem "Letters From a Werewolf" by Nick Macedo makes use of the epistolary form by having a werewolf address the moon.

Additional sections included in this horror book focus on other aspects of horror. For example, one section is dedicated to murder and mayhem and another section encompasses dystopian poems. However, my favorite poems are the ones that explore classical monsters in movies. For instance, in "Even As He Falls, King Kong Remembers" by Ronald Koertge, King Kong catalogs his brief memories of his life before his death. In "Gretel and I Watch the Blob" by Jeff Walt, the persona retells a narrative of watching a movie with his sister. And in yet another poem, "Call Me Christine," the poet Nancy Santos takes on the voice of Stephen King's monstrous car.

DarkER Ink is accessible for all readers

Most of the poems included in this anthology are highly accessible. In other words, readers who are afraid of reading poetry shouldn’t be afraid of reading this anthology (unless, of course, readers are afraid of the subjects of these poems including monsters and ghosts). Even the ones that use strict poetic form, such as "Dead Girls Return in a Villanelle" by Hadley Dion, are fun lyrical verses that any reader would enjoy.

DarkER Ink is a sequel to Dark Ink: An Original Anthology of Poetry dedicated to horror. Confession: I have not read the first anthology. Is this like watching Friday the 13th: Part 2 without seeing the original? I don't think so. DarkER Ink simply delivers more poetry about horror. Reading this collection left me wanting to go back and read the first anthology, because yes, horror and poetry are awesome together.