Book Review: 'Haiku for the Midnight Hour'

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© 2024 Horse Mesa Press

 Review: Haiku for the Midnight Hour by Dawn Pisturino

Dawn Pisturino’s Haiku for the Midnight Hour takes the delicate form of haiku and twists it into something eerie and evocative. These brief verses, though spare in language, pulse with dread—ghosts, shadows, and the chill of empty spaces fill the page. It’s poetry for when the lights go out and you start noticing things you wish you hadn't.

She plays with juxtaposition: traditional nature imagery rubbing against spectral unease. The result is a collection that’s as unsettling as it is elegant—like overhearing a whisper in the dark, only to realize it came from nowhere.

This isn’t horror that screams; it lingers. Perfect for lovers of Halloween ambience, gothic moods, or anyone who enjoys finding beauty in the quiet spaces between fear and fascination.

Here’s a poignant excerpt from Haiku for the Midnight Hour that captures the haunting elegance of Pisturino’s style:

whispers through the trees
an old house with broken eyes
waits for company

It’s simple, yes—but deeply suggestive. There’s atmosphere in every line, a kind of quiet terror that creeps in without asking. 

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