Is there any way I can split long lines in .screenrc?

[Chris Jones]

Couldn't find anything in the usual repositories.

Here's my current hardstatus line (length=190):

hardstatus alwayslastline "%{+r wk}%H %{+b yk}%0` %{+b wk} %1` | %2` %3` |%4` 
%{+b wk}| %{+b wk}%l%{+b wk} |%{+b gk} %n %t %{+b wk}| %{+b wk}%W %=  %{+b wk} 
%D %m/%d/%y %c:%s | %{+b yk} %5`"

I tried using a '\' backslash escape as in:

hardstatus alwayslastline "%{+r wk}%H %{+b yk}%0` %{+b wk} %1` \
    | %2` %3` |%4` %{+b wk}| %{+b wk}%l%{+b wk} \
    |%{+b gk} %n %t %{+b wk}| %{+b wk}%W %= %{+b wk} \
    %D %m/%d/%y %c:%s | %{+b yk} %5`"

If .screenrc's syntax does not allow splitting lines .. is there a
workaround?

Thanks!

CJ