Empty Bottles Full of Stories

by R.H. Sin, Robert M. Drake

A joint poetry collection from the virally popular and bestselling poets r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake.
 

What are you hiding behind your smile? If those empty bottles that line the walls of your room could speak, what tales would they spill? So much of your truth is buried beneath the lies you tell yourself. There’s a need to scream to the moon; there’s this urge to go out into the darkness of the night to purge. There are so many stories living inside your soul, you just want the opportunity to tell them. And when you can’t find the will to express what lives within your heart, these words will give you peace. These words will set you free.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Adult, Romance, Mental Health, Contemporary, Poetry Plays

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

Reviews

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This poetry collection was a big disappointment.
I have read nearly everything by both Sin and Drake and enjoyed the majority of their work.
This collaboration just did not work. The poems felt sappy and were inconsistent.
The use of repetition was overdone and did not serve a real purpose in getting the point across.

[Hina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should stop reading bad modern "poetry" books just because I like their covers. I REALLY SHOULD.

[Chantel Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn on this one. I really enjoyed the first half of this collection, by Robert M. Drake. I was foreseeing a 5-star rating, as it was original and inspiring. However, when I reached the second half, by r.h. Sin, that feeling quickly changed. It wasn’t bad, but it just felt like more of the same repetitive poetry I often read and just did not connect with most of it.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and every poem written in this. This was the first poetry book by both the authors and I guess at this point I am hooked on their words. I am definitely going to read more of their work in the future.

[Allison Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love poetry. I have a Master's Degree in poetry. Reading this was at times unbearable. This seemed like the tortured snippets I would write early in high school when I thought I was edgy and cool and tragic. I was not.

This book suffers from the severe lack of imagery, especially in the first half. Poetry can be heavily driven by rhetoric as long as what is being said is fresh, impactful, and somewhat profound. There was nothing profound about any of these texts. What is discussed are basic thoughts most humans have but do not feel the need to write down because it just isn't worth noting. The works are far too whiny, uninspired, and are a waste of anyone's time and money.

[Maria Garcia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a poetry hater. I love the work of amazing poets/writers; people full of talent, inspiration, major purposes and so on. Among those I mention, I could easily include Nayyirah Waheed and her work Salt, or Alberto Ramos and his amazing work eighteen. I could even include the charismatic Rupi Kaur and both of her works, Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers which, although they may be at times too simplistic, have a worth considering message underneath and a beautiful design. This author, nevertheless, leaves me speechless in the worst of ways (ironic because I am writing in this review more letters than most of his books contain).

I literally feel like he throws some inmature, random and EXTREMELY clichéd thoughts in his books, with no special style nor theme, with no artistic features nor any type of talent. All I could see while reading his words was his macho attitude claiming to know everything about women and being the best guy a woman could ever had. Simply pathetic. And I get why people buy it: he makes so many books with such little pages (even 50) and then prices them so "low" (not low considering the book characteristics, even expensive) and fools his instagram followers into believing he is selling an art piece for a super low price, and when people express their opinions on his comments sections he straightforward deletes it and even blocks you. And I am of course not talking about insulting him nor his work on his account, but rather asking a question literally like "i'd like to see you writing books with more themes than love, i'd be nice" LITERALLY he has deleted comments of the kind. I bet he spends way more time fooling the Instagram community and misguiding them to fill his pockets than actually crafting his books. Not to even talk about what's within the actual book which I refuse to call poetry: "run away from any guy who claims to love you while treating you like shit" (enter space x5) Wow. Lorca who dis.

All in all, save your precious time and money on scammers like this and if you are trying to find some good poetry, check out the amazing book eighteen combined with stunning illustrations made by the author Alberto Ramos who is just 18, or Nayyirah's work too, which is so deep and beautiful although more simple than eighteen; if you liked this r h Sin book, you'll fall in love with the authors I mentioned and on my humble opinion, will discover the genuine essence of contemporary poetry, and if you disliked Sin's books, you may even love the ones I said more.


That was hella long. But hey, hope it helps you. I wish someone had said this to me a little while ago.

[Stephanie Wilcox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was r.h. sin when I picked it up lol rip

Anyways, I read this dang thing and I'm so ridiculously over the way Sin fetishizes the pain of women. I've read a number of his collections and the basic idea is always that a broken women is beautiful because her pain and brokenness makes her so. It's icky.

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet poems, heart touching with their total lack of pretendness, with their unadorned simplicity sprinkled overs layers of granulated mixtures of soil, pebbles, and yellowish sand- I delight my mind with their beauty and I see roses timidly hiding their petals in the darkness of unfathomable deep crevasses, I see the brush of Paul Cezanne bringing to life the painting of
‘An old woman with a Rosary’ - I see originality, courage, sincerity of a talented poet - definitely good poems worth to be applauded!
“ Know the difference.
That’s what makes you
Who you are.”

Not understanding, not questioning, not opposing, not accepting and the list can go on. It is simple ‘know’- And how can you really know if you don’t let your heart live and teach your judgement what truth is?
‘And I want to
grow old there.

That’s all”

[kimbosoup · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t believe I got through this..... 200 pages of mansplaining emotions and fetishizing emotional abuse..... painful to read.....

[Yazminz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an empty bottle full of stories 🍂

[Jade Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I miss reading poetry. This was the perfect collection for me to pick up to revive myself of my poetry dehydration.

Synopsis
A joint poetry collection from the virally popular and bestselling poets r.h. Sin and Robert M. Drake.

What are you hiding behind your smile? If those empty bottles that line the walls of your room could speak, what tales would they spill? So much of your truth is buried beneath the lies you tell yourself. There’s a need to scream to the moon; there’s this urge to go out into the darkness of the night to purge. There are so many stories living inside your soul, you just want the opportunity to tell them. And when you can’t find the will to express what lives within your heart, these words will give you peace. These words will set you free.

I enjoyed this collection a lot and it truly reminded me of how beautiful poetry is, and that sometimes it is necessary for me to read someone else's work. The topics discussed in this were hard hitting but beautiful. It was thought provoking and definitely made me get inside my own head but in a good way for the most part. Although there was one part in particular when relying on another person was discussed. And when I say this I mean in a relationship. I don't want to go as far as saying that it triggered me but it took me back to mental mindset that made me feel like I had taken one hundred steps backward in my progress I've made over the couple of months. It was very strange. But then after that it talked about self progress and it made me realize that I have grown and that it's okay to be selfish and take time to focus on yourself. That it's okay to get out of a toxic relationship and other things like that. If I'm interpreting the specific piece correctly I think it was trying to let the people who are reliant on other people know, whether they know they are or not, that it's not the healthiest way to live. That makes me feel more positive about it rather than going back to that time in my life where I was reliant in my relationship.

Anyways, I really did enjoy this and it was a very beautiful collection.

Pre-Review

This book is underrated for how beautiful it is.

[Katy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I wanted to get hyped about dumping someone who doesn’t deserve me, I’d listen to Beyoncé, not read this preachy, flat poetry. The best poems of the bunch were on the back cover, in particular the one written by Samantha King Holmes, the only poet who wasn’t featured in the book. The first half by RM Drake reads like something that could be regurgitated by any basic motivational speaker and the second half by r.h. Sin is predominantly sulky break-up poetry. In broad strokes I could see how these might resonate with the masses but this certainly didn’t resonate with me.

[Mery ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

Sadness, like happiness, is delicate and temporary

This is my first book from R.H.Sin. Can't say it was a good start! There's no doubt this sells but it shouldn't be considered poetry. It's a more motivational quote/self-love help guru than poetry. No critical thinking involved whatsoever just scroll on by to the next. For me, putting a political piece in the middle of where no one expected it to be was very disappointing. Instapoets have amassed such huge followings they are almost immune to literary criticism and it's much needed.

[Bianca Dolcee · Rating 2 out of 5]

how could you think you are weak when every time you break, you come back stronger than before? - Robert M. Drake

mediocre.

Robert M. Drake's half was way better.
r.h Sin's half actually disappointed me. I am a fan of his work so I was surprised by this. Nothing really moved me in his half, I heard it all before tbh.

[steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

note to self: no more letting my friends talk me into reading work from these two ever again

[Longmei Ge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know if these poems were that terrible individually, but the sheer repetitiveness of them made it a bit tedious to read

[Katherine Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert is able to express not only the pieces broken off from him but from others. He’s able to see why relationships fall or are created but the emotional baggage is what always drags people like himself down. No matter you know or not of why you may fall apart there’s always a dark spot that can be erased. He’s able to bring life to the emotional and logical parts of relationships. He even shows how to avoid it, yet knowing it’s inevitable.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drake’s poetry in this collection is breathtaking.

[guille (littlebitmoody) · Rating 3 out of 5]

i need to find new poetry because i have the feeling of always reading the same thing

[Tabatha (tab.talks.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I’m used to reading poetry mostly about overcoming heartbreak etc as that’s what most people wrote about—however this book has a bunch of everything, it was refreshing. Half the book is Robert drake and the other half is r.h Sin. Both amazing writers, highly recommend the read, it’s a quick one! Sometimes I recommend to buy the book and pick it up randomly and read a couple pages at a time.

[Abbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5// there was a passage that was essentially just a paragraph of "you're not like other women" and, yikes, it's really not the compliment men think it is

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a disjointed venture between two authors. I started reading at the end of November and was going through the book quite quickly while I read Robert M. Drake, the author of the first half. I had initially sought out the volume for the writing of Robert M. Drake. I abruptly halted my progress when I met r.h. Sin. The two voices clash.

I picked up reading in January only because I renewed the book several times at the library and my time was up. After giving the work some time and space, I was able to complete the writings of r. h. Sin, which I did find some words to appreciate. I simply don't think these two authors go together. It felt competitive, not complimentary and I believe they are better to publish their work independently in the future.

Of the two voices presented here, I certainly prefer the words of Robert M. Drake. The second half of the book seems to be entirely about relationships, while the first part is a bit more complex and contemplative.

Favorite Passages:

The Curse by Robert M. Drake

What People Need
People want to heal.

They want to know
how the stars
ended up on their hands,

how the comets soar
through their eyes,

and how the flowers grow
within their hearts . . .

when all hope is lost.

They want other people,
like you,

to feel the force of things,
to understand the magnitude
of the falling apart,

of the breaking heart.

They want to know
they're not alone . . .

What We Do
From the moment of birth
till death . . .

it is all,
after all,

about meaning.

The in-between,
the moments of chaos,
the ones where it feels
as if our lives
are falling apart . . .

The Issue
. . . The past is always growing
and time
is just another metaphor
that represents
all the people

we've lost.

Run With You
I don't know
how many times
you've been
broken

and I don't know
how many times
you've fallen

but I do know one thing.

You make me want to run with you . . .

I Think, I Don't Think
. . . I think
the star in you
wants to give light
to other people

and I think

I need it
to help me
find my way. . .

Stories
. . . The world is beautiful,
life is beautiful,
and hatred shouldn't be carried.

So please go on
gently
and always remember
to let all things
that weigh you down

go.

Too Much of Anything is Bad
. . . The beautiful gift
and curse of being human,
to give and to take away. . . .

You won't be
the same person
after you've seen
what you're meant
to see . . .

and how could you?

The world is both
light and dark
and only those
with their eyes open
see

and find their way.

It is both

a curse and a blessing
to feel things

so deeply

and too much of anything
will always be
too much . . .

A Girl I Once Knew
She had tragic eyes -
sad eyes
as if she had seen
too much
or had too many stars

die

within the edge
of her pupils.

Large, faraway eyes,
as if
all the things
she had lived through
meant nothing
without the people
she loved.

Without a word
she speaks
and tells me
all the things
I need to hear . . .

Like the gentle doubt
I carry
throughout my life. . .

I follow
and I walk
toward her darkness -
where all the dying stars
end up.

Where the light
can't escape
and where all
the lost people go
to be found.

Those eyes,
beautiful and lost.

Those eyes,
piercing and soft.

Those eyes,
sane and mad.

And with one look

I am lost . . .

forever.

Too Much Darkness
. . . Too much love
and too little
time to explore it. . . .

Storms
Summer rainstorms,
calm seashores,

and gentle nights
full of stars.

And I think,

this is where
the year ends

but this must be
how the chaos of me

begins.

B. Obama
. . . If you want this world to heal,
then we must all be open
to the opinion of others. . . .

Want it or Not
. . . Believe in this.
Believe in words,
feelings,
and things you cannot see.

Like signals,
symbols,
and the way your heart
breathes. . .

The Thing About You
The thing about you is,
you carry this kindred sadness
that draws me in
and it's a lot like mine.

It peeks from the edge
of my eyes
when it wants to
and only a handful of people
take notice.

And its the same way
I'm noticing yours
and that's a beautiful thing.

It's a miracle when similar people
find one another
and that's why
I've got to know you . . .

In All My . . .
. . . I want the chaos of life
in different times
and different stages
of my life. . . .

Who You Are
After all,
the world is made up
of different kinds of people,

so sooner or later
you're going to run into someone
just like you
and you're going to analyze them
and say,

"Damn, I am complicated
but I am also beautiful."

And that will be enough
to inspire you
and give you the perfect amount
of courage

to continue being
who you are.

_____________

the gift by r.h. Sin

the third shot.
. . . You could be asleep dreaming dreams that make you smile; instead you sit there all alone in a dark room gently lit by the moon, feelings of being stuck in a nightmare that seems to be playing on loop. It feels like the walls are closing in on you, the ceiling is collapsing. Time is passing, the night sinks into itself, and you become a little less sure of everything you were already questioning.

awake, this nightmare.
we were reduced to pictures
in a broken frame
we became the memories
i'd force myself to forget
and you would become
my greatest regret

i miss the life I knew
before knowing you
i made the worst decision
in choosing you

truly transformative.
she turned sadness into art
she turned pain into pure strength
she took what little they gave her
and made it more valuable

only a climax, nothing more.
. . . True intentions wrapped up in a box with so many bows that you deem it believable, and you never see the truth until it's over and you're left there alone, back where you began. Trying to figure out how to piece yourself back together.

from 15.
. . . i see it every day
people running in circles
like a vinyl playing
my favorite song

ludicrum 5.
i'm not searching for a love
that makes me blind
i want a love
that helps me see . . .

took time.
I believe I wanted more of everything that you were incapable of giving me. I thought I lost you, but today I realize that I only gained the chance to be truly happy after you left. I found the type of peace that had always escaped me in our relationship, and now that we are over, I am sober enough to walk this straight line of living a life that no longer includes you.

a silent awakening.
there's a type of freedom
that lives in a space of solitude
the mind is free to roam
without seeking permission
and in that moment
you find yourself more available
and readily able to choose yourself
without feeling guilty or selfish

where there is solitude
there is a deeper understanding
and appreciation for peace and joy

sometimes you have to be alone
in order to discover what truly matters

oh well.
You are angry with me for having the ability to express the truths that others keep hidden with a smile.

the sad sister.
Your sick, sad sister slithers like snakes, saying sorry without meaning it. Filled with envy, she's painted the color green.

ever-evolving.
Life evolves a bit faster when you've surrounded yourself with high-frequency people, individuals who push you to do more than you knew you were capable of. People who have chosen to do more, to be more and so they encourage those around them to do the same.

you, a mountain.
. . . do not be threatened by hills
when you yourself are a mountain
do not fear the rain
when you yourself are a beautiful storm
of chances and hope

i know, i know.
Honesty has become a lost art, and loyalty seems to have vanished right before our eyes.

the unstoppable force
she refused to allow others
the ability to control her narrative
she produced and published her own story
and there was nothing
anyone could do to stop her

072288.
I don't judge people for wanting to disappear.
So many of us are hiding, looking for an exit,
eager to leave this all behind. I've been there
too, and there are times where I struggle with
this feeling, but I've fallen in love with life every
time I fall for you.

golden, her existence.
She was always amazing, she was nothing like
you'd ever known. The way she smiled through
the chaos, the way she held her own. Her soul
was always divine, her heart concealed magic.
Her entire existence was a constellation of
stars burning the dark hue of the night sky. . . .

the ice is cracking.
Life is too short to spend days on end dancing
around the inconvenient truth . . . .

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

forgettable & mediocre LOL - read like some 17 year old teenage girl was going through her first heartbreak and stole some tumblr quotes online

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed drake’s part of this book

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poetry books and memoirs are always so hard for me to rate / review. Poetry in itself is so subjective. As humans, we relate to poems that are something we've experienced. Whether that be trauma, pain, love, happiness. So I've found that I'm more likely to like / enjoy a poetry book that tells of emotions and feelings I'm experiencing in that moment or have recently. Does that even make sense?! haha.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure most of us know that R.H. Sin is talented. However, this book fell flat for me. I normally find myself finding at least a handful of poems from each of their books that I adore and can relate to... and while I did find quite a few in the first half by Drake.... I didn't find as many moving poems this time around from RH Sin. Unfortunately. That wont' deter me from reading more, but nonetheless, it wasn't the best.

[Jeanette Porcaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It always takes me a few days to collect my thoughts about RH Sin novels. Usually his poems are about heartbreak and missing someone but this time it was different. His part of the book was about how no one deserves your love unless it’s earned and not to fall for people who don’t feel the same way. It was very refreshing to hear all his words. The other co-writer in this book was also very good and now I have to look him up because I need more. This book. I have no words. (Just like I am with every other one of his books.)

[⭑✯*⭒.✶ianis✶.⭒*✯⭑ · Rating 2 out of 5]

foarte ♓♓♓
would recommend to my ex

[Jayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

so unfortunate that the few good lines in this anthology are overshadowed by r h sin’s bitter attitude.

[chyi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ + favourites

i've spent so much of my life
unable to live, unable to breathe
needing someone who didn't want me
chasing after the ones who always walk away
claiming to be in love
when really, i was living in a version of hell
that i accepted because deep down
i didn't really think that i deserved
to have all the things i claimed to want

5 stars is not enough for this gorgeous collection of poetry. 'Empty Bottles Full of Stories' navigates loving deeper than the deepest parts of the ocean, the effects of society on our daily lives, the grief of life and love lost after escaping manipulators and so much more with such raw and beautiful feeling and passion and I just couldn't put it down. So many of the poems resonated with me in so many ways and I can't WAIT to read more from Drake and Sin.

I especially enjoyed the collection of r. h. Sin's poetry, I didn't realise how much I needed a lot of it until I read those words. This is EXACTLY what I come to poetry for and I am obsessed. I also adored the poems about the city and the airport!!!! Absolutely GORGEOUS!! Stop tempting me to move to New York guys!!!!

(To my Girlfriend whose copy I read and tabbed, I'm so sorry for the insane amount of tabs in your copy of this now. Thank you for letting me read your books, I love you eternally <3 )