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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><A name=_GoBack></A><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The use of the word velvet is intriguing and challenges
my imagination. The author has made it a central theme.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That means I have to have an
understanding of what velvet is in this poem. That puts a lot of importance on
the title. It created a cognitive dissonance for me initially, because for me
velvet is not what I would want to be wearing in the hot, sweaty summer. The
soft, fuzzy fabric on one side traps heat. On the other hand, I get the silky
side of velvet and my favorite pajamas are silk and I love that feeling and the
lightness which goes with them. One good thing about this reaction, is that it
demands that I pay attention to discover what <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Velvet means in this
poem.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">3
(line) I begin to get the picture here. Velvet does cushion. so now I’m thinking
cozy and protective.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">4
(line) It’s verified. It is protective. That softness<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>is a strong tactile sensation that is
strong enough to overcome<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>bad
memories., which include the cold of winter. warmth is a good thing in this
context.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">6
great use of alliteration. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">7
ditto<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also it takes the reader into
the poet’s writing process, which includes her inspiration from the sensations
from nature that surrounds her. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">8
this line is beautiful. It demonstrates the meaning of
onomatopoeia.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">9
more alliteration and internal rhyme.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I would leave out ‘the’.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">10 I think you can do better than ‘a natural’. Maybe
‘living’.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">11 I love the use of ‘unfolds’ because it completes the
metaphor of the night as something like parchment upon which one can write.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">14 Clever example again of analogy or metaphore. I can
never tell the difference..<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">29 (line) this is a little confusing. Is the writer away
from home because she is on walk, or has she moved away?
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">30 In any case, the cooing makes her feel at home in a
many faceted way. She feels things returning to normal. Her relationship with
her guide dog is developing into a velvety comfort. Just like old
times.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The remaining lines solidify what I’ve said in my last
comment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">In the second paragraph, there is more history, some of
it implied about the writer working to transfer the trust she had with her last
leader dog and her predecessors. In the past she could just forget about making
sure her guide was not in need of her concentration. She could trust that the
psychic bond they held for each other could be relied upon to bring anything
requiring attention from the human would automatically become conscious.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That would leave the writer free to
write, her senses and thoughts fully immersed in her
canvas.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">There is a brief mention of the writer’s father. She
wants to feel his approval of how she is doing. She is also extending her self
identity to include willow. That is a work in progress, but good progress is
being made. She still looks toward her father for that validation and
encouragement. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I
think this piece can definitely stand on its own. One of the things I would want
to find out more about is the writer’s relationship with her father, who is in
some ways still present.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The poem
mentions past leader dogs in her life. By itself, it doesn’t tell much about
those relationships, and I would want to know about them. But it is not
necessary in this poem. The reader will want this void to be filled.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s a good
thing.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I
love the poem.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Velvet Nights of Summer with Leader Dog
Willow<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">by Alice Jane-Marie
Massa</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">1 Oh, the velvet nights of summer!</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">2 I happily embrace</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">3 nights when the velvet air of July</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">3 cushions my face</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">4 from the memories of the past winter,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">5 nights when the velvet clouds</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">6 pad the poetic path</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">7 on which I walk and write,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">8 nights when velvet winds</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">9 stretch from the succumbing sun to the dusk</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">10 which unfolds into a natural desk</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">11 on which I can creatively write</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">12 as my guide dog <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Willow</st1:City></st1:place> leads the way.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">13 On this velvet evening, </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">14 a double block drifts into a "Writer's
Block,"</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">15 then a span of back to total concentration on work
with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Willow</st1:City></st1:place>.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">16 At the next double block,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">17 along <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Juneau</st1:place></st1:City>,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">18 I hear the mourning dove--</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">19 also for the first time</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">20 since returning home</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">21 with my new Leader Dog.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">22 On the day after the anniversary of my Dad's 103rd
birthday,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">23 is he nodding his approval</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">24 of my <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Wordwalks</I> with <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Willow</st1:place></st1:City>,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">25 of my <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Willow</st1:City></st1:place>?</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">26 My fourth Leader Dog and I walk </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">27 toward the distant cooing</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">28 of the uncommon mourning dove--</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">29 more typical in the trees around my Hoosier
home.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">30 What a gift is this velvet night</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">31 on the 12th of July,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">32 when<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
come to the crossroads</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">33 where the mourning dove, my writing, and my
willow</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">34 meet!</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">July 13, 2016, Wednesday</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
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