Christopher Louie Poetry’s Volume 4 (Broken) delves into the emotional terrain of heartache, fleeting passion, separation, and the lingering ache of unrequited love. This collection of spoken word and poetry captures the rawness of romantic loss and emotional disconnection, tracing the deeply personal aftermath of love gone silent.
The album opens with its title track, “Broken”, a vivid narrative of sudden abandonment that spirals into self-doubt and emotional chaos. Through fractured imagery and aching lines, it portrays the pain of being left without explanation. The speaker grapples with shattered trust and a love that vanished without warning—once full of promise, now replaced with silence and uncertainty. The emotional devastation is underscored by the metaphor of a heart splintered into countless pieces, suggesting that healing will be neither quick nor simple.
“You Were But A Fleeting Dream” reads like a love letter written in the aftermath of loss. Here, the speaker yearns for reconciliation, mourning a connection that ended too abruptly to make sense of. The relationship, ephemeral and dreamlike, leaves behind confusion and heartache. Still, there’s hope—a longing to understand what went wrong and a fragile wish to rekindle what once was.
“Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” paints a bleak yet beautiful landscape of post-love despair. Once filled with light and joy, the speaker’s world is now shadowed by absence and sorrow. Haunted by memories and disillusioned by loss, they question whether healing is possible or if some hearts remain permanently fractured, unable to fully love again.
In “Teardrops,” the speaker reflects on the paradox of love—the way one person can bring both immense joy and profound despair. Through metaphors of hot and cold, presence and absence, the poem explores a relationship that once brought meaning but now leaves only echoes of what could have been. Pain becomes a teacher, guiding the speaker toward growth despite the emotional wreckage.
“I Bury Myself in Work to Forget You” captures the numbing effect of distraction in the face of heartbreak. The speaker turns to routine and productivity as a shield from painful memories. Yet, beneath the surface lies a deep emotional wound, proof that moving on is more than keeping busy—it’s an inner battle with what once was.
“Unrequited Love” is a raw exploration of one-sided affection. What begins as hope unravels into a pattern of unanswered texts, emotional distance, and a painful realization: the love is not mutual. Despite clear signs, the speaker clings to the belief that things can change, embodying the heartbreak of chasing someone emotionally unavailable.
In “I Don’t React When People Mention You,” the speaker reflects on emotional numbness following betrayal. What once felt like real love reveals itself as illusion. The process of healing involves detaching not just from the person, but from every trace of their name, presence, and memory. It’s a poem about letting go—not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary.
“If There’s a Chance to Reunite” expresses the lingering hope of rekindling a once-passionate connection. Though wounded by separation and misunderstandings, the speaker still believes in the possibility of redemption. With vulnerability and introspection, they ask: Is there room for one more try?
“If You Don’t Love Me, Set Me Free” examines the quiet agony of staying in a loveless marriage. Once built on promise, the relationship has deteriorated into deceit and emotional abandonment. The speaker pleads not for affection, but for freedom—a release from a bond that has long since turned into a prison.
In “I Left When I Saw You With Someone Else,” betrayal becomes undeniable. Gaslit and doubted, the speaker endures the trauma of infidelity and its psychological toll. The moment of truth comes not from suspicion, but sight—seeing what cannot be unseen. Choosing to leave becomes an act of self-preservation and closure.
The album closes with five alternate versions of select tracks—“Where Do Broken Hearts Go?”, “I Don’t React When People Mention You,” “If There’s a Chance to Reunite,” “Teardrops,” and “I Bury Myself in Work to Forget You”—each offering a nuanced perspective and emotional variation on familiar pain.
Christopher Louie Poetry’s Volume Four (Broken) is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora, Deezer, Boomplay, iHeart and other major streaming services.
Volume Four (Broken) is also available on CD at christopherlouiebooks.com/shop
