🩸 Horror Fiction

Come Fly with Death: Poems Inspired by the Artwork of Zdzislaw Beksinski

✍️ Wesley D Gray
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$5.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A chapbook of twenty ekphrastic poems responding to Zdzislaw Beksinski's surrealistic art.

Gray writes poems that reflect the intense style of Zdzislaw Beksinski’s artwork. The collection explores themes of ruined utopias and final days. It serves as a poetic counterpart to the painter’s last period before his death in 2005. The text combines old pieces from niche magazines with fresh compositions. It connects visual surrealism with written word without avoiding violent or sexual content. This work examines how poetry can interpret unsettling images. Readers experience a mix of Gothic mood and contemporary ekphrastic technique.

Key Themes
ekphrastic poetry surrealistic art apocalyptic vision
Literary Context

The work emerges from the tradition of Polish utopian art established by Zdzislaw Beksinski before his death in 2005. It connects to contemporary horror literature through publications like The Horror Zine and Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, situating itself within modern supernatural fiction circles.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Zdzisław Beksiński's art · Ekphrastic poetry collections · Gothic horror anthologies · Surrealist literature
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Marrowroot Press 📅 2014 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780692288894

📝 Description: Come Fly with Death: Poems Inspired by the Artwork of Zdzislaw Beksinski

Wesley D Gray offers Come Fly with Death, a small book of twenty poems created in response to the work of Zdzislaw Beksinski. The late Polish artist produced images until he was killed in 2005, and Gray’s writing reflects that dark, surreal aesthetic. These verses tackle disturbing, romantic, and end-of-the-world subjects found in the painter’s legacy. The volume mixes new pieces with previously published work from various horror and fantasy magazines like Twisted Dreams and Dark Gothic Resurrected. It also includes selections from anthologies such as Death Head Grin Vol. 2 and Fossil Lake. Some poems are appearing here for the first time. This book is best for fans of ekphrastic poetry and surreal art who enjoy challenging, apocalyptic themes rather than traditional narratives.

💎 Our verdict on Come Fly with Death: Poems Inspired by the Artwork of Zdzislaw Beksinski

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Wesley D Gray successfully translates the intense, surreal style of Zdzisław Beksinski into twenty distinct poems. The collection excels at capturing the Gothic mood and unsettling nature of the painter’s last period without resorting to traditional narrative structures. By combining old pieces from niche publications with fresh compositions, Gray creates a cohesive yet varied exploration of end-of-the-world subjects. The work challenges readers to engage with disturbing and romantic themes simultaneously. It is best suited for those who enjoy challenging, apocalyptic poetry rather than conventional stories. The ekphrastic approach allows for a deep dive into visual surrealism, making it a valuable addition for collectors of dark fantasy and horror poetry.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the intersection of visual art and literature will find this chapbook a compelling study in dark aesthetics. It is ideal for those drawn to surrealistic themes, ruined utopias, and apocalyptic imagery. Fans of Zdzisław Beksinski’s work will gain a deeper textual understanding of his final period, while poetry enthusiasts may enjoy the challenge of interpreting violent and sexual content through verse. The mix of previously published pieces and new compositions offers variety for collectors and new readers alike. It serves as a poetic counterpart to the painter’s legacy, providing a unique entry point into niche horror magazines and the broader tradition of dark fantasy.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Wesley D Gray successfully translates the intense, surreal style of Zdzisław Beksinski into twenty distinct poems. The collection excels at capturing the Gothic mood and unsettling nature of the painter’s last period without resorting to traditional narrative structures. By combining old pieces from niche publications with fresh compositions, Gray creates a cohesive yet varied exploration of end-of-the-world subjects. The work challenges readers to engage with disturbing and romantic themes simultaneously. It is best suited for those who enjoy challenging, apocalyptic poetry rather than conventional stories. The ekphrastic approach allows for a deep dive into visual surrealism, making it a valuable addition for collectors of dark fantasy and horror poetry.

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