Lines, A Riff Of Consciousness Poem by Hugh Cobb

Lines, A Riff Of Consciousness

Rating: 5.0


'Crossing the line' - what does it mean, exactly?
It's the ultimate situational-dependent phrase.
Lines are always moving, shifting, changing
form from straight to circle, arc to tangent...
What if the line crosses you?
Do you pull out a '9' and pump it full of holes?
It's just an evanescent point of demarcation
arbitrary, whimsical that sometimes
has deadly consequences.
Is it ink, space, white powder on a mirror?
Is it literal: proverbial line in the sand?
or is it one of the nearly invisible
fine lines etched in the palm of a hand?
Is the line broad or so narrow it's a line's shadow?
Whose line is it anyway?
There's no prompter to call it out,
no stage manager with script on lap
whispering hoarsely from the wings.
Is the line theoretical or dialogue?
Is a line solely the connector between
two points, two poles
(& 1 very short Lithuanian?)
We make much of these lines of ours,
create such importance to something
so temporal & so temporary.
Do the various lines in play
at any given time run parallel or perpendicular?
Or, do they enter one another at odd angles
creating off-center conflicts?
Whose boundaries are they?
Then there's the dotted line
they're always wanting you to sign -
A line so unsure of itself
it isn't even there half the time.
There's line of sight: sniper lines
deadly with crossed lines at center scope...
Lines are used by surveyors to solve property disputes:
Borders/Lines/Boundaries
invisible barriers that serve
as impediments to intimacy.
Paths, roads, are lines on a map.
There are invisible lines:
in the heavens connecting stars
in constellations, all imaginal, all created
Yet somehow all lines can lead us home
but only when those lines are drawn with
and made up of love, pure love.

(Copyright 2/22/06)

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Anna Russell 23 February 2006

Once again, you've given me some real food for thought. This poem has so many layers and deserves to be reread several times in order to peel away each one. Great imagery (lines on a mirror, evanesant demarcation) . Loved the Lithuanian joke too! That'll be a 10 then. Big hugs Anna xxx

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Seán O' Muiriosa 01 March 2006

This was a really enjoyable read Hugh. It was very inticute in parts but you also speak much truth in it. It's the sort of poem I'm sure even my maths teacher would like! Brilliant, and the end, I feel, is totally justified. Well done. Best wishes, Seán

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Gina Onyemaechi 25 February 2006

EXTREMELY clever and witty arguments leading to a most humanitarian finish. Love it, love it, love it. With great respect and admiration, Gina.

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Raynette Eitel 25 February 2006

This is very clever and well written. I won't hear the term 'crossed the line' again without thinking of this...and realizing that lines should be love. That's the 'bottom line' after all. :) Raynette

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Declan McHenry 24 February 2006

Hugh, absolutely superb. By turns (by line?) both funny and insightful. As a poem, this is Intelligent Design.

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kskdnj sajn 24 February 2006

Love... ones 'life line'. This was very unique, and well done, I enjoyed that it carried your knowledge smoothly and always in your writing...personality. Angie :)

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