As ghosts emerge for Halloween, readers in the area may be
haunted by “Ghosts of a Broken Heart” by local writer William P.
Robertson.
Though not really a spooky read, “Ghosts of a Broken Heart”
collects the early poetry of Robertson written primarily during his
college years at Mansfield University and during a dark period
following graduation. With a darkness and images in some poems
comparable to Edgar Allan Poe and style and descriptions comparable
to e.e. cummings, Robertson’s early poetry in this collection deals
mainly with lost love and heartbreak.
Though some of Robertson’s early themes are not as universal as
the works of Shakespeare or Frost, his early works include plenty
of experimentation and great observations as he attempts to purge
his demons by plunging into free verse, shaped or metaphysical
verse and traditional rhymed styles. The work sometimes tackles
important issues, sometimes experiments with sound or description
and sometimes tells stories with a distinct narrative voice which
one might expect to find in short stories rather than poetry.
However, his youth shows when he tries to tackle abstract ideas
with confusing metaphors or when the subject in the poem deals with
juvenile issues. Some of the darker poems can be a little
melodramatic at times.
Poems collected in “Ghosts of a Broken Heart” are mainly drawn
from Robertson’s first four chapbooks – “Burial Grounds” (1977),
“Gardez Au Froid” (1979), “Animal Comforts” (1981) and “Life After
Sex Life” (1983) – that are now out of print.
Three of the poems from “Ghosts of a Broken Heart” won awards.
“Animal Comforts” took second place in the Vega Magazine March 1981
Love Poem Contest. “The Murderer” won second prize in the Fall 1987
Writer’s Place Poetry Contest, sponsored by the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford. “The Hobo Jungle” won second prize in the
Contemporary Poets of America & Britain Fall 1993 Poetry
Contest sponsored by Dorrance Press of Pittsburgh.
“Ghosts of a Broken Heart” also includes cover photos for the
previous three books, photos taken by Robertson and professional
photographer Wade Robertson.
Besides Poe and cummings, Robertson was influenced by Doors’
lyrics penned by Jim Morrison and has collaborated with the rock
band ShadowFox on two audio books of horror verse and macabre music
– “Gasp! The Haunted Recitations of William P. Robertson” (1999)
and “Until Death Do Impart” (2002).
Another of Robertson’s books is appropriate with Halloween
coming. “Lurking in Pennsylvania,” a book of macabre poetry and
seven tales of terror, collects three decades of Robertson’s best
horror stories and poems. He specializes in understated Gothic
terror in the tradition of Poe and H.P. Lovecraft and draws his
material from McKean County legends, his Grandma B’s Swedish
folktales and traumatic person experiences. He also delves into
dark humor and tries to put a fresh perspective to such classic
beings as the werewolf and troll.
Robertson is a freelance writer from Duke Center. Since 1978,
his poetry, stories and articles have appeared in more than 480
magazines in the U.S., Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales,
Romania, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. He has published 10
chapbooks of poetry. Robertson’s latest literary endeavor has
teamed him with David Rimer on a series of seven historical fiction
novels written about the famous Pennsylvania Civil War rifle
regiment – the Bucktails. Two of these novels were published in
2002, and the other five are forthcoming.
Several of his poetry books are available online. His novels can
be obtained online from Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com or at
many local outlets throughout northwestern Pennsylvania.
Autographed copies of “Ghosts of a Broken Heart” and his other
books still in print can be ordered from the author at P.O. Box
293, Duke Center, Pa. 16729.
