No dial tone

Broken again...

 

No dial tone

 

Sweet the scent of never knowing

faceless fears and silhouettes

blooming on a hillside

of aqua thoughts and turquoise slippers

changing the colors from dark to light,

blending heartache with feathered features,

transparent in the scheme of these feelings

 

When disturbing the ant pile it is better to walk off…

then ask directions

 

Sitting at the table as jealous waiters

take orders from no one, casting neon signs

of daily specials on a blue plate avenue

in rush hour foot traffic, bringing detours with the bill,

expecting a healthy tip for having drawn the blinds

hiding you from peering eyes

and evil grins

 

Always check the silverware for evidence of previous users

before placing a napkin in your lap

 

Night brings with it the casualties of a day job,

lonely dreams scattered on splintered park benches

beneath a flickering street lamp illuminating graffiti poems

and wrong phone numbers…

silent as the one you hold in your hand,

wishing for a lighted screen, displaying her name

knowing it will not come

 

Dialing directory assistance for help in locating

the broken heart app

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Astro]

This one is different than most I've read from you Jack. I like it a lot, it is similar to the type of word play that I enjoy very much. This section sold the piece for me. I love it.
"Sitting at the table as jealous waiters
take orders from no one, casting neon signs
of daily specials on a blue plate avenue
in rush hour foot traffic, bringing detours with the bill,
expecting a healthy tip for having drawn the blinds
hiding you from peering eyes
and evil grins"

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend. Happy you enjoyed this.

[TL Boehm]

I love the way you can breathe life into the normal, the every day. This poem is like watching a movie and crying at the sad part...Beautiful

[Jack...]

Thanks so much. I appreciate you.

[Baby Ricochet]

Some good imagery here. Reminds me of a Hemingway short story I read about two waiters in a tavern in Spain

[Jack...]

Thanks so much BR...That is a huge compliment.

[carol burgess romance]

when disturbing the ant pile it is better to wander off then ask direction......so much said in this one line.You always seem to bring out the best of a broken heart..Love this one...great write as always my friend.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Carol my wonderful friend. I always appreciate your visits to my poetry.

[Angel]

How well I know this empty feeling.

There are no words, Hun...

Just check me on the broken heart app...

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Angel. I think we all feel this way sometimes. As far as the broken heart app...You're so cute, I think you may have broken a few as well.

[kublakhan27]

The sad resignation is more than palpable here, accentuated by the vividness of the scene you've painted...there are a litany of striking lines throughout, especially night bringing the casualties of a day job, I thought that was a wonderful observation...there was much in this piece for me to relate to...great work my friend.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Steve. I am thrilled you enjoyed this poem. Your kind words are always welcomed

[Anand Sehgal]

When disturbing the ant pile it is better to walk off…

then ask directions

what a strong abstract !! brilliant :)

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much. Believe me, I have stepped in a few ant piles in my day...it is not a pleasant experience.

[Anand Sehgal]

I know :) formic acid is not good

[icelandicblue]

When there is something missing in our lives or something really wrong it colors the day in shades of gray and it takes a lot of effort to find the color that lies beyond. You've created really desolate scenes that are highly effective. Well done Jack.

[Jack...]

Anne, I can't be lonely too long with you around. Thank you so much for stopping by and making me smile.

[OTownPete]

All of these things just seem to accentuate the void that can only be filled by the one who drifted out into the hinterlands of your memory. Your friend in words, Pete

[Jack...]

Thanks so much for stopping by Pete. I always appreciate your visits.

[Rita L. Sev]

A piece of free verse that has the reader sitting on that lonely park bench, too - "broken heart app" - great concept in the modern age - we are not a "connected" as we think...

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rita. Somehow, even on this lonely dark bench I smile when you appear.