Pain in My Heart

by Daryl-Jarod

Overview

" An often affecting book of poems about modern romance.." - Kirkus Reviews 

Pain in My Heart is a candid and honest journey through the eyes of a hopeless romantic. Each poem serves as part of a puzzle that not only pieces together heartache and love, but also the vulnerable parts we fearfully conceal from the world.
Poems that cover topics of self-love, depression, anxiety, and life as a gay black male in today's society, all await you as Daryl-Jarod unlocks his heart to yours, one page at a time.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940163319527
Publisher:	Daryl-Jarod
Publication date:	11/05/2019
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	259 KB

About the Author

Daryl-Jarod is an author, recording artist, and actor, who was bit by the writing bug at an early age. He aspires to give fans something unique and fresh with each piece of work he crafts. He resides in Southern California, where he is working on various literacy and music projects.

Editorial Reviews

2020-02-12
Relationships are a source of bitterness and occasional bliss in this collection of confessional verse.

In these 82 short poems, Daryl-Jarod addresses the failings and betrayals of his gay speakers’ boyfriends and hookups, as well as their own inner demons, in direct, plainspoken language and imagery. For example, “What About Me” memorializes a selfish lover who “only touches me when he needs release” while “All my needs appear to be obsolete”; “Fuck Boys” deplores one-night stands who “Beg for my body with no intention / Of loving my mind”; and “Hate” excoriates an irresponsible partner: “Who else but YOU would toss away the glove / And attempt to infect me with poison?” Daryl-Jarod addresses neediness in “Damn This Loneliness” (“Double texted you after no response /…Cursed myself for every attempt to feel wanted”) and waxes cynical in “The Truth About Love.” But his speaker feels the pull of exuberant carnality in “The Love Below” (“As your love below expands / …Both of us panting and weeping / Pushing our bodies to insanity / …Those three words / Rest on the tip of our tongues”) and narcotic highs in “Another Hit.” Overall, Daryl-Jarod’s poetry effectively conveys a wide range of emotions, from desolation to tenderness to ebullience. The tension between longing and disappointment prompts a declaration of independence in “Like You Never Existed” and the healthy narcissism of “The Beauty of Self-Love” (“Find yourself a partner / Who appreciates the same beauty / You see when you gaze in the mirror”). The poet also mines the oppression of “being called sissy and faggot” in “I Wonder” and offers a truly ringing cry of solidarity in “A Love Letter 4 U” (“It doesn’t matter if we identify as / GAY or LESBIAN / TRANS or NONBINARY / Our unity makes us stronger than ever”). Readers may find that the poems in this collection sometimes come off as self-involved, which make the set as a whole feel uneven. Overall, though, the poems evoke the rush and anxiety of love in a relatable style that’s sure to resonate with many readers.

An often affecting book of poems about modern romance.

Kirkus Reviews