For extremely dark poetry lovers, this collection by Eric Kapitan should soothe the aching beast. It’s called “As the Blade Cuts” and the poems within the pages are nothing short of stylishly gruesome. Kapitan goes on a journey with his internal struggles, passionate about everything associated with pain and mutilation. In fact, this collection allows me to give out a warning to a genre that’s mainly filled with hardcore fans. If you’re expecting love poems and rose pedals, think again.
Giving any type of criticism when it comes to poetry always involves a thin line, because it’s such a personal form of expression. It has to originate from a deep part inside the writer, and Kapitan has no problem digger deeper than most. In this case, the personal expression is mostly based on death, blood, horrific murder and from what I can gather, a sense of revenge. Kapitan’s style doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and unlike the typical poetry you’ll find, rhyming and metaphors take on a whole new meaning. With a very straightforward and modern approach, Kapitan remains very focused on expressing specific detail, such as the flow of blood or the killing process.
For the overall premise of the poems, which is usually some kind of vicious act that involves mutilation, Kapitan takes on a variety of topics. For example, he takes a stab at aliens hunting down a man like a deer in the woods. Then they continue to devour him right there. He also looks at vampires, but not in the innocent way used by television. He paints them as bloody monsters that will remain forever cursed. Then of course, Kapitan exposes some inner demons. My personal favorite has to be “Inner Demons”, mainly due to the way it ended.
Kapitan doesn’t hide behind any trite technique or far-off metaphors. Where many poets try to express a certain feeling through a general thought, he prefers to be more direct with the subjects in his poems. There should be no doubts about what is going on where it’s ultimately going to lead to.
My most objective opinion would be that this collection distinctly belongs in the darker side of horror. Even though it’s very creatively written, it’s not a collection that is easily read in one sitting. I can only presume that Kapitan aimed the poems at stirring raw emotions we don’t experience on a daily basis because that’s the message that gets through. While some of the poems linger on a distorted image of romance, they are usually dominated with a constant rage.
At the same time, I can say that the poems are truly haunting and the dark atmosphere that surrounds them really set the tone. Not once is there a glimmer of light, or at least a degree of hope, for the victim in the poem. Instead, it’s a vicious cycle from one individual to the next, experiencing their own private hell. Be warned that this will not be an easy trip to take. Kapitan is graphic and very determined to leave his readers at the mercy of some twisted tales.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
About Eric Kapitan
Eric Kapitan has a huge admiration for all things horror. He loves to tell stories that can both disturb and entertain a reader. His favorite horror film series is Phantasm. His favorite book is The Bighead by Edward Lee.
Eric currently lives in a small town in Vermont where he also grew up. He enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as drinking a nice, cold Vermont-brewed beer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.