The Wasted Space Between Your Ears: Poetry by Jerry Lovelady

This book of poetry is eclectic in nature, though it adheres to elements of classical poetry in some of its titles with rhyme, stanzas that are appropriately divided, etc. But the poetry is more about illusions that the nature of Reality serves up to us day to day. Illusions which we attempt to adhere to in order to be successful in life. The fast pace at which Reality pushes us can most of the time cause us to miss seeing things which might or might not be important to us, yet they, nonetheless exist whether or not we want to acknowledge them. Poems like “Squander the Day” and “Waste the Day”, as well as “Slothful Miscreants” invite us to put away our troubles for a little while and appreciate what we have, to not get so caught up in the day to day issues we all have to deal with.
Also the pace of reality is challenged in the work “Life Goes Rushing By”. The author makes the point that Reality trots us along at a pace that prevents us from seeing much of what we are passing along the way, and he encourages us to slow down, take our time and view the world differently.
There are many love poems in this collection which anyone who has truly been in love can appreciate. “Icing On the Cake”, “Standing at Her Mirror 2”, and “First Date” represent but a few very personal titles. Intimacy is also embraced time and again in poems such as “Just Ask Me”, “The Longing”, “Loved Beyond Measure”, and “We Two”.
Also mingle in are some social commentary current today. “”For the Dreamers Everywhere” and “Street Corner World” relate the predicaments of our poorest and least understood members of society, and the challenges they face. “”For the Undead Americans” and “The Tired Conscience of America” speaks of our lack of political will to address the current problems of drug addiction and immigration. “America the Spoiled” confronts us with the environmental crisis we in America have created and continue to ignore.
All in all, there are many good poems here to peruse and appreciate on many subjects, some of which we take for granted, and others we have never considered. All have a way of getting our attention and providing us with a brief respite from our dull, repetitive lives.