Color Outside Lines

Color Outside Lines is a self-instruction to disregard instructions. The collection of poems comes out of attempts to understand tolerance and awareness in society sprinkled with some enquiry and some disregard for prejudiced notions. The poems unite to discuss topics ranging from duty-faith to expression and inquiry that are often viewed as purely right-wing or liberal issues but hide subtleties that often evade a casual observer. The refrain encourages the reader to opinionate for one’s own self while carefully guarding against distracting and enticing demagogic forces. It may not always be possible to convey all facts perspectives and versions of a topic “in 140 characters or less” or “in 1 minute clickbait videos” or “in three stanzas of rhyme.” These poems borne out of thought provoking discussions over umpteen cups of chai and coffee aspire to serve as kindling for further sharing of ideas and perspectives. The poems propose that the pursuit of informed opinions about nuanced topics should be the wind of our sails as well as the compass of our times. In that vein Color Outside Lines is dedicated to the impassioned exchange of views joined by threads of reason that leads to the making and changing of opinions and minds.