By David E. Cowen, Bram-Stoker Nominated Author of Bleeding Saffron

Every October social media sites become saturated with celebrations worthy of Samhain (pronounced “so-win” in Gaelic I am told). The HWA has a rich tradition of dark poets who all relish this season. Not a single member of the HWA I would wager would not include Edgar Allan Poe on a short list of dark poets, probably then jumping to Robert Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, George Sterling and H.P. Lovecraft. But would you jump to Samuel Taylor Coleridge with his The Rime of the Ancient Mariner? What about Robert Frost or Carl Sandburg? Emily Dickinson? Conrad Aikin? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? John Keats? Why on earth would you think that dark poetry has not been a staple of the great ones for centuries. So, from the public domain, and in order to celebrate Samhain or Halloween or Día de Muertos, Tutti I Morti or whichever day of lost souls and dark spirits you cherish, here are some wonderful examples of dark poetry from some of the greatest poets you have read. Enjoy and HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone! ...More...