Between the lines

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Knife wielding assailants

Yellowed-eyed winos

The unemployment line

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Hyenas laughing at you and me

Deceitful eyes and whiskey breath

 A million out-stretched hands

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Fools in the rain

The window seat on the plane

Nightmares in broad daylight

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Broken noses as well as hearts

The albatross around the neck

The sky’s bitter torch

 

Between the lines you’ll find

The mental chains that bind

The song you can’t remember

The one you’ll never forget

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Miles Davis playing at 2 AM

A half empty bottle of bourbon

My typewriter still clicking

 

Between the lines you’ll find

A fly struggling against a web

A young man struggling against the world

Another lousy reality TV show

 

Between the lines you’ll find

The bottom of the bottle

The top of the hour,

Newscaster’s incessant chatter

 

Between the lines you’ll find

A hat trick, a no hitter, an amazing Super Bowl touchdown

Another nameless homeless man

Dead in the street

 

Between the lines you’ll find

A mad genius in a rubber room

A crowded jail with open doors

A closed school and a broken home

 

Between the lines you’ll find

The damnation of many a man

A lifted skirt and parted legs

The liberty statue fat and dim

 

Between the lines you’ll find

A man reading the good book

Another man who thinks it’s not so good

Empty pockets and a collection plate

 

Between the lines you’ll find

Pictures of matchstick men

Plastic faces and empty heads

Nietzsche’s words still ring true

 

Between the lines you’ll find

The last words I’ll ever type

Reviews

[.n.]

Oh man, this is awesome. I love your theme- you really capture the down and out and the empty spaces that abound in our country. This powerful and you have some really magical lines here. "Plastic faces and empty heads"...perfect. Your poetic voice has become recognizable for me, I enjoy reading your work, and I think you are getting stronger with each poem you write.

[Sunni Davis]

I love this! Straightfoward and on point. Most people dont see whats between the lines but this poem is definitely an eye opener. Well done!

[Lily Mae]

It's such a phenomenal write.. I don't know what to say.. All of it is so true.. This is an outstanding piece.. :) xx

[Snarfy]

What I admire the most is that you are able to create such incredibly symbolic images with only five or six words. Words that capture and envision an image of life, society, and our personal interactions with one another that maintain generality, yet are specific enough to hit the reader. Wonderful.

[An owl on the moon]

There is voice and there is silence, and here you've captured the wildness of the world that dances between the lines.. etched in shadows.. Your words cut deep.

[Dushyant Thadani]

This theme is awesome... And I love the way you've shown your interest in literature citing various examples... This title was very strong, and I loved the way you've written it... Simple and yet breathtaking... Great job...

[Nobody.]

What does one say to such a thought, but AMEN!?

It makes me glad that I live between the lines....
that's where the life is.

I'm no usually give to blatant praise, but this f*****g sank my battleship man. Just amazing. I am filled up with your poetry right now. And, a tiny bit jealous of this masterpiece.

cheers!
R.G.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A sultry and provokative piece, well ardoured amoung times of sheer badness that speaks to a reader, well done

[Sukriti Suki]

Wonderful...I am at a lack of words to explain how I felt when I was reading this piece. The flow is perfect and thoughts expressed here are very thought provoking and interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[poetry-kiddo alienbaba]

A brilliant write Tkess!
I really mean it....
between the lines...
A poet has stated what most have missed observing

[Emily B]

it really needs to be whiskey breath, without the 'e' . . . I like what you do between the lines