Whiskey Words & a Shovel by R.H. Sin | Rating: ★★★★☆

You keep fooling yourself into / thinking that chaos is passion / and that somehow the / destruction of your heart in the / process of loving the wrong / person was beautiful / those past loves were all lies"

Poetry is, and always will be, one of my favourite forms of expression in art. R.H. Sin captures his audience with a simplistic honesty that still is raw and emotionally charged. It is without a doubt not meant for the faint of heart and, of course, imperfect. You won't always like Sin or his prose, but you'll respect his honesty and the journey. Whiskey Words & a Shovel II is not going to be for everyone.

But, for me, I loved it. The way Sin expresses himself in so few words is marvelous and solidifies the place he has earned in modern poetry. On some pages, he is optimistic and almost preachy towards his audience. On other pages, he is broken hearted and baring his soul. There's a sort of bravery in expressing one's self the way that Sin does because his prose doesn't trace any single line--it explores all the intricate paths that life and love takes us and that isn't always healthy or unhealthy. It just is. Whiskey Words & a Shovel II captures the very essence of life and that's what makes it so appealing and universal for its audience.

That being said, the imperfection within in it is not always necessarily a guideline or romanticize of this or that. To ignore these thoughts or possible paths, these experiences, would be an injustice to the person Sin has become because of it all. Whiskey Words & a Shovel II, much like its predecessor, is an in depth look into his romantic hits and misses; not a how-to-guide. Sin's voice is very strong in it and feels deeply personal and thought provoking.

What I love about the collection is just that. It's complex and will have you settled in agreement and of course disagreement. Sin becomes a friend to the pages and allows us into the most intimate inner-workings of his life.

Even his toughest critics should appreciate that.

Overall, Whiskey Words & a Shovel II is a true standout in modern poetry. It will keep you in place, utterly captivated, until you are finished. Those in the poetry community will embrace him for his frank tone and admire him for it.