Darker Objects

by Christine E. Ray

Poignant Poetic solos, duets, and provocative political anthems are possessed with evocative titles illustrating their focus, including; ‘American Gothic’, ‘Ghosted’, ‘Nocturnes’, ‘Viral’ ‘Rooms so Still, So Silent’, ‘Tongue-Tied’, ‘Tenterhooks’, ‘Rage Against the Machine’, and ‘Feminist Manifesto’. These lightening threads of passion, rage, love, and grief are the dark, irresistible heart of Darker Objects.

Collaborators include creatives from around the globe with a multitude of talent: Kindra M. Austin, Kim D. Bailey, Elijah R. Carney, Jharna Choudhury, Ward Clever, Susan M. Conway, crystal x, Candice Louisa Daquin, Lynn Devora-McNabb, Sarah Doughty, OldePunk, Michael Erickson, Rachel Finch, Devereaux Frazier, Stephen Fuller, Nicholas Gagnier, Georgiana Grentzenberg, Iulia Halatz, Saide Harb-Ranero, Quatrina Hosain, Rachael Z. Ikins, Sun Hesper Jansen, Rana Kelly, Erin L. King, Mandy Kocsis, Aakriti Kuntal, John W. Leys, Lois Linkens, Nicole Lyons, Jamie Lynn Martin, Devika Mathur, Nathan McCool, S.K. Nicholas, Dom Wynette, Jack Neece, Allister Nelson, Jesica Nodarse, Basiliké Pappa, Zelda Raville, Kristiana Reed, Megha Sood, Eric Syrdal, Marcia J. Weber, Robert Wertzler, and Laurie Wise

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2023

About the author

Christine E. Ray lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A former Managing Editor of Sudden Denouement Publications, she co-founded Indie Blu(e) Publishing with Kindra M. Austin in September 2018. Ray is author of Composition of a Woman and The Myths of Girlhood. Her writing has also been featured in As The World Burns: Writers and Artists Reflect on a World Gone Mad, SMITTEN This Is What Love Looks Like, We Will Not Be Silenced : The Lived Experience of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Told Powerfully Through Poetry, Prose, Essay, and Art, Anthology Volume I: Writings from the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective, Swear to Me (Nicholas Gagnier), and All the Lonely People (Nicholas Gagnier).

Reviews

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m drawn to dark poetry, poetry that’s raw, hard-hitting, and full of tough emotions. Darkness is definitely the theme here, but not limited to the realm of speculative fiction by any means. There’s plenty of darkness in the real world. It’s everywhere – in politics, gun violence, abuse, power differentials, oppression, racism, the murder of children, the loss of choices, war. There is profound dismay in many of these poems, as well as a strong sense of outrage.

When I picked up this anthology, I didn’t realize that many/most of the poems were written collaboratively, with multiple voices adding their unique experiences to the subject matter. This made the collection unique, and it worked because all 46 poets write beautifully, without exception.

Some poetry flows with eloquent imagery. Some offerings are sharp and biting, pounding on the readers’ sensibilities with an unapologetic hammer. There’s no hiding here, no pussyfooting, and no compromise. Among the poems are sections of poetic prose, and the anthology includes a collaboration of artwork as well. This is a generous collection of poetry and art, over 300 pages, that I read over a week, and highly recommend.

[Kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since discovering Christine E. Ray’s work in 2016, it has been clear that Ray’s objective within the writing community goes beyond simply sharing her work with others. Ray is a brilliant fosterer of talent as shown in her contributions and dedication to several collectives and in the establishment of Indie Blu(e) Publishing. There is a tacit understanding in everything Ray does that it is as much for her as it is for the voices she wishes to amplify. And while many recent anthologies have achieved this, Darker Objects is the perfect demonstration of Ray’s passion for the written word and for other writers. This is a unique collaboration and celebration of Ray’s ability to bring people together.

The poetry in Darker Objects has a vast thematic scope, and yet the editing, curation and inclusion of individual pieces by Ray, means that no voice is lost, every contributor stands firmly in their style. This is because Ray’s own style, while consistently honed, is so wonderfully hers - constrained in structure but rich in imagery - and because of this every other voice is allowed to remain true to itself. At no point in the extended collaborative pieces does it seem as if structure, idea, or imagery have been forced upon the writers; instead these pieces flourish with originality and individuality, while still singing together.

Darker Objects is a sincere memento to Ray’s impact upon the people she has worked with over the years. It is a reminder that Ray is a pleasure to write alongside. That Ray is a force within the writing community; a force for creativity and togetherness. It is a reminder that Ray has spent years nurturing the written word, whether from her pen or from others, and that is a gift we should all be grateful for.

[Danielle Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each poem of Darker Objects builds upon the previous poem through abstractions and imagery. Underlying themes are sewn together with a single word that reappears as a gentle reminder and as a way to propel the poetic narrative further. The poems find refuge in your heart and beg you to turn page after page, like a novel you cannot put down or an enthralling symphony that keeps you in your seat awaiting the next set of sounds from the orchestra. The artwork serves as entr’actes to help catch your breath and prepare for the next part of the work. Darker Objects is a collection of poems that begs rereading, as each read brings you to new places.