Dialogue: Hanging By a Thread (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Dialogue: Hanging By a Thread
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Friday, May 8, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

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Dialogue: Hanging by a Thread by John Herlihy A: This rope is frayed. B: No doubt from overuse. A: Can you give me a new rope? B: I haven't got a rope. A: Then I'll find a new rope. B: Yeah, a rope to tie me up in. A: No, not enough rope for that. B: How about a rope to hang me. A: You've got your own rope for that. B: Nah, I'm already hanging by a rope. A: Want me to give you some slack? B: Sure, and let myself down slowly. A: Right there at the end of your rope. B: Oow, now connected by a thread. A: You mean, like in a dream? B: Yea, connected by the astral thread. A: So now you’re hanging by a thread. B: Yeah, but the thread will take me places. A: Oh, what sort of places do you have in mind? B: Take me home out of the labyrinth. A: Labyrinth? What home? Where? B: The thread knows, man, trust the thread. A: Knows what, man, what to trust? B: The thread knows where to take me. A: Where, then, do you want to go? B: There, thru the eye of the needle. - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Friday 8 May 2026

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on May 21, 2026

INTERESTING SHARE. WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I AM JOHN...A BIBICAL CONNOTATION IS WHAT APPEARS FOR ME. AND IT SEEMS THE MAN(B), WHO IS 'HANGING BY A THREAD' IS TRYING TO GET 'HOME' BUT DECIDES TO TAKE WHAT APPEARS TO HIM AS THE EASIER ROAD, WHICH IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE... THROUGH THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE. THANKS FOR SHARING.

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on May 9, 2026

A refreshingly quirky write with a faintly familiar theme. Well done.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on May 8, 2026

A new angle of expression here, John, and one that you've made identifiable for any reader. The closing line is a perfection of thought, providing a dual meaning for some of us: an answer to a complex process of illimination and also a more abstract thought that with the thread having found the eye of the needle and is proceeding to give the needle purpose, you ask us to be patient, even if such a choice might--as you suggest--unravel a means of support, and know one is only limited by their use of imagination.