How Hot It Be in Hell by Aubrey E. Drummond is a poignant collection of 39 poems that traverse the spectrum of human emotions, from the depths of personal despair to moments of love, happiness, and existential reflection. Through raw and visceral language, Drummond explores themes such as life, death, and internal strife, often focusing on the darker aspects of the human condition. This poetry collection provides a powerful and unflinching look at the complexities of existence, concluding in a haunting meditation on mortality and the search for meaning through torment. Drummond's ability to convey raw and intense emotion is remarkable, and I loved the simplicity of her wordplay that evoked such strong images with so few words.

Each poetic moment taps into the reader’s innermost feelings, making complex emotions like sadness, rage, and regret palpable through stark language and sudden references that wake you up to some of the feelings that we’re all constantly pushing away from ourselves. Aubrey E. Drummond skillfully employs symbolism throughout the collection to create moments that stick deep in your mind; for example in ‘Broken,’ one of my favorites, where shattered objects represent fractured human relationships. This ability to weave deeper meanings into everyday experiences makes readers notice those mundane moments with a lot more meaning. The exploration of heavy themes like death, madness, and existential dread never feels forced. Instead, it builds an emotional resonance that lingers long after reading; for example in the rhythmic feel of ‘Drink the Drink,’ another poem that stuck with me, where repetition mirrors the cycle of destructive habits. Overall, How Hot It Be in Hell is an unmissable collection for fans of accomplished and emotionally bold poetry.

Aubrey E Drummond wrote and rewrote the pieces in How Hot It Be in Hell from 1979 to 2000. As readers turn the pages, they will see verses about the beauty and pain in nature, a whimsical poem about Willie losing a girl, and trying to catch a person's sadness unsuccessfully. The words convey the stories of a grief-stricken child who doled out vigilante justice, the tale of an uneager lover who rid herself of her nightly commitment, and the fingers of melancholy gripping you as you try to bring cheer to another person. Readers may find titles like "Balloon Death" and "Flower" could mean so much more than the words suggest.

Do you feel angry, melancholy, or aching for a drink? After you stare at the thought-provoking cover, walk with Aubrey E Drummond and tour the eerie remnants of a war-worn fortress, view different perspectives of love, watch heartache in a winter backdrop, glimpse a voyeur who lusts after innocence, follow along with a man who is angry with his woman and gets into a bar fight, and witness the cycle of junk many put into their bodies daily. At first glance, the words may seem simple, but if you stop to think about them, the perspective becomes more layered and complex. My advice is to read the entire work and then read it again. I found valuable gems in almost every piece, and I would have missed some of them if I hadn't taken the time to reflect on Drummond's verses. The poet is an author whose lines resonate deeply even when he writes a "meaningless dance of dark charcoal on cotton fields." Just remember as you absorb the lines How Hot It Be in Hell.