Fun With Dead Things Thursday, April 10, 2008 (09:10:00) Posted by Noizy1 Review of horror poetry collection by Greg Schwartz "Bits and Pieces" published by 'Spec. House of Poetry' (C) 2007 - $5: Reviewer Tony 'noizy1' Bernstein Bits and Pieces is a quick, entertaining collection of macabre poetry by Greg Schwartz that is strongly rooted in classic horror tropes such as zombies, vampires, and various other dead things that refuse to stay that way. The poems are cleaver, quirky, a little twisted, and often quite witty -- including a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments. That said, Bits and Pieces is nicely balanced with some seriously grim and chilling poems. “Farmhouse” (first printed in Universe Pathways, Jan. 2007) is a subtle, atmospheric poem that effectively conveys darkling echoes of long-ago suffering by merely hinting at nameless acts of deranged cruelty occluded from view behind shuttered windows and untold years. “Death Comes” (first printed in Talebones, Summer 2006) carries us through the eyes of a disembodied spirit just after a violent end, we then walk along side this spirit headlong down deaths open road to oblivion. Every poem in this volume, weather morbidly humorous or simply morbid, sketches its dark scenario with clear, uncontrived precision while staunchly keeping to a PG rating. Many of the poems have the power to inspire a chill and a chuckle simultaneously. The following piece “Siren’s Call” (first printed in Cthulhu Sex Magazine, Summer 2005) is a fine example of the poetry’s duel nature: Siren’s Call By Greg Schwartz Her beauty is blinding, Jet-black hair and eyes like burning sapphires. Sweet darkness flows from her and Wraps its shadowy tendrils around me. My mind explodes in a burst of bright pain at Its whispery touch. She smiles - A vicious, evil smile. I know she wants nothing more then to eat me; To chew on my flesh and crunch my bones. Yet I can’t run. One pretty hand reaches for my throat And I smile too. This haiku (first printed in Scifaikuest Aug 2006) shows us the poet’s idea of ‘toilet humor’: Unlikely Portal By Greg Schwartz an unlikely portal - nightmare creatures climbing out until someone flushed. Schwartz’s poems also have a certain accessibility that renders them easy to appreciate, as in the following pastiche “Snack” -- one of three works unique to this volume: Snack By Greg Schwartz zombie pulls a package from the freezer unwraps a finger dips it in hot sauce and turns on The Twilight Zone. The three preceding poems demonstrate nicely how Schwartz is able to bring a unique brand of dark humor to the page. We see throughout this humble collection of eighteen poems how he manages to make familiar, old horror tropes fresh and fun, and like a top comedian, at the end of his show he leaves us wanting more. In addition to being a talented writer, Schwartz is a staff cartoonist for SP Quill Magazine and a fine artist. However, it was the skilled hand of Cathy Buburuz that fashioned the cover art for Bits and Pieces. This volume is worth picking up if you’re a fan of classic horror or not; still, I would ask Mr. Schwartz to make his next book a bit longer. Content received from: GotPoetry.com, http://www.gotpoetry.com