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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p>Abbie'spiece.</o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">There<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>was no paragraph indications. No
indentations or spaces to separate them. So, I put the paragraphs in where I
thought they should go. I think this is a pervasive problem as we try to send
and copy our work out to and from different soft ware systems.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=2>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The first
paragraph was a good grabber. It had immediate emotional
tension.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=3>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I like the
way you ended it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a day
filled with life threatening anxiety, but in the end everything came together.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=4>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Most people
will relate to this story. Most of us have had medical scares. You’ve captured
the process very well. there is always the inner battle of how serious to
treat little medical signs which could mean nothing, or could mean our lives
are in jeopardy.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=5>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I think
you’ve done a good job in describing all the things that were going through
your mind. the internal argument about how bad it could be, but how that might
not be a rational conclusion. About the lack of caregiver resources.
remembering how bad it was when your husband got sick, proving that all these
dark shadows were not unrealistic. . I’m halfway through your book and I don’t
know how you did it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">6:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You’ve included the ‘who is meisms’ and
the ‘Why me feelings. You’ve eally got it all in there and in a very believable
way. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=6>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: black; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In the
en,there is a sense of “What was that all about?”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Was I being silly. Should I feel
lucky, ashamed, etc. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Youcertainly
seem to have learned how to roll with the punches and to get up with a
smile<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and embracing life.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">7. I’ve been looking
for some way to improve the piece, but I really havn’t been successful.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Good job.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></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 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">8.In Paragraph 7 you
said, “ I don’t know, K answered in exasperation. I’lll get there when I can.”
some people would criticize that for being redundant. They might say that the
reader already knows you are exasperated. I disagree.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It helps me to have that pointed out.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">9. In paragraph 10 you
say your brother would want to come down and take care of you, but he really
couldn’t. so I’m picturing him making the gesture, but counting on you and his
family to say how he could not afford to do that.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wonder how that conversation would
actually have gone. How honest would it have been. Did your relationship depend
on everybody playing their part? <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ve done that danceon both sides and
have sometimes felt like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz when he asks his
comrades to talk him out of something he has just committed to.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">--------<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Building a Mountain
from a Clogged Pore<BR><BR>1.Recently, I stepped out of the shower and was
drying myself when I <BR>discovered something on my left breast. It felt like
the moles on other <BR>parts of my skin the dermatologist said were nothing to
worry about so <BR>I told myself I was making a mountain out of a mole, but the
fact that <BR>it was on my left breast was worrisome.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>2 I hurriedly
dressed, called the women’s clinic, and was able to get an <BR>appointment for
later that morning. When I called the paratransit <BR>service to arrange a ride,
the dispatcher said, “We’ll get you there, <BR>but you’ll have to be patient
getting home.” As I put my cell phone in <BR>my pocket, I thought that if I
wasn’t diagnosed with breast cancer, I <BR>would have all the time in the world.
I then realized that the <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">nurse-practitioner at
the clinic wouldn’t be able to tell if the spot <BR>was cancer by looking at it.
A biopsy would need to be scheduled, and <BR>that would mean waiting and
wondering.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>3. I threw myself
into my work, eating half a bagel and banana at my desk <BR>while checking
email. I usually did this every morning to save time. I <BR>then started work on
an upcoming blog post. Fifteen minutes before my <BR>scheduled pick-up time, I
was ready. The bus was late.<BR>It was about ten minutes before my scheduled
appointment, and the <BR>driver said, “I’ve got a couple people to pick up
before I can get you <BR>there. Sorry.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>4.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Oh great, I thought, and I removed my
cell phone from my pocket. “Just <BR>tell them it’s our fault. We had a
scheduling problem.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">5<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The scheduling problem
was my fault, I thought. When I called the <BR>clinic earlier, there was another
opening for the following day, but I <BR>didn’t want to wait that long. The
paratransit service usually <BR>preferred to book rides at least a day in
advance, but I’d convinced <BR>the dispatcher it was
urgent.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>6<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When I called the clinic a second
time from the bus and explained the <BR>situation, the young woman who answered
the phone said, “When do you <BR>think you’ll be here?”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>7.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“I don’t know,” I answered in
exasperation. “I’ll be there when I can. <BR>Just tell the nurse-practitioner
I’m coming.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>8. As the bus
bumped along, I thought my life was going great until now. <BR>My new memoir was
out, and a couple of promotion events were scheduled. <BR>Why did this have to
happen now?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>9. I remembered
the time when my late husband Bill suffered his first <BR>stroke. We’d been
married for three months and were happy, then boom! <BR>Was this thing on my
breast another bomb about to droop (drop)? Why?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>10. I alternated
between these thoughts and telling myself I was making a <BR>mountain out of a
mole. I thought of my editor, Leonore Dvorkin, who <BR>fought her own battle
with breast cancer years earlier and lived to <BR>write a memoir about it. While
she was recovering from surgery, her <BR>husband David took care of her. I no
longer had a husband. If I needed <BR>a lump or the whole breast removed, I
would have to depend on the <BR>kindness of friends. My brother would probably
want to fly in from <BR><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Florida</st1:State></st1:place>, but with a wife and five kids and
working two jobs to make <BR>ends meet, he couldn’t afford
it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>11. When we
finally arrived at the medical complex housing the women’s <BR>clinic, I was
surprised when my talking watch told me it was <BR>ten-forty-five, the actual
time of the appointment. My white cane <BR>swinging in front of me, I dashed to
the elevator and found the <BR>Braille-labeled button for the second
floor.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>12. “It’s probably
nothing,” I told <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Tracy</st1:City></st1:place>, the nurse-practitioner moments
<BR>later. “It could just be a mole, but I thought I should have it checked
out.”<BR>“Absolutely,” she said. I placed my index finger on the spot, and she
<BR>examined it. “It looks like just a clogged pore.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><BR>13. “You mean it’s
nothing to worry about?”<BR>“Not at all,” she answered. “It should clear up
soon, but if it gets <BR>bigger and starts hurting, let us know.”<BR>After
putting my shirt back on and before leaving the exam room, I <BR>called the
paratransit service to request a ride home, prepared to be <BR>patient. As I
left the clinic and made my way down the deserted hall <BR>toward the elevator,
I was relieved and elated. “Yes, I don’t have <BR>breast cancer. Life can go
on,” I said, thankful no one was there to hear me.<BR>Once on the ground floor,
I stood just inside the entrance. To my <BR>surprise, a bus pulled up a few
minutes later. This was my lucky day.<BR><BR>----</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I love the
refrain, “I have been here before.” I love the roll of the
r’s.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the roll
continues throughout the stanza. They are like a military drum roll that makes
our blood excited to go to war and engage in patriotic activities. Drums and war
dances have been used thouout <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>human
history. But the writer challenges these heady experiences<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by stating that her heart hangs low.Even
in this line, the ‘r’ is prevalent.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>the heart is not raised but lowered. the inner conflict is clearly
defined.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">second <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>stanza , line 1.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">quote “three flags flourish.” quote. alliteration of the
f’s is good and the r keeps rolling. The word ‘flourish’ speaks of the survival
of life..</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I love the refrainand question,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>quote. “Commander-in-Chief, when’ is
that enough? quote. When is it enough. When has a family and its members made
enough sacrifices and tempted fate enough?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>When has a family’s patriotic duty been fulfilled?</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">quote. “Ten little fingers and 10 little toes,” quote is
the voice of the mothers who see their deployed members as children, born in
perfection and innocence. All of which is maimed by war.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Then the poet turns to the Creator and chief who has
protected her children<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and she
supplicates that he do it again. Haven’t they earned this? Haven’t we earned
this.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">When the poet speaks of ‘standing in this room before,’
she is not speaking only of herself as a single entity, but of mothers who have
seen their children off to battle since time immemorial.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(when will we ever learn?)</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Then the poem moves to what those who are beautiful in
their innocent perfection, are capable of when they are not serving the gods of
war.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The poet stands in honor and prays, even though these
questions<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>have never been answered,
despite the fact that <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>she cannot
accept the reality<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>of this human
condition, especially when applied to her own family.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The handshake with OBamma and Michelle indicates to me,
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that we are compelled as a species
to work to resolve the human condition and to accept responsibility for it.
Doing<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Karma with Dharma is an
ancient Hindu concept. It is not only what we do, but how we do it. We are not
to be reviled for being human, but trust<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>that a way will unfold. that allows us to live up to our
potential.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The llast line is like a splash of cold water. This is as
real as it gets, down to rank, file. and serial number. The deployment<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>is what the writer now has to live with.
</FONT></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"><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 face="Times New Roman">Blue
Star for a Bold Nephew</FONT></B></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="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><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. I have been here before,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">been in this room before,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">with the blue-star banner hanging on my window</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">and my heart, my heart hanging so low.</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">2. Three flags flourish on my window sill;</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">three years ago, he was in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for eleven months.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Commander-in-Chief, wasn’t that enough?</FONT></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><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Ten
little fingers and ten little toes.</FONT></I></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">Creator-in-Chief, bring him back once more--</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">like his grandpas, uncles, dad, and cousins.</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><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Ten
little fingers and ten little toes.</FONT></I></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">I have been in this room before--</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">waiting, waiting so long:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">standing, standing in front of the draperies </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">where I pinned his airborne wings—</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">praying, praying for ordinary things.</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><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Ten
little fingers and ten little toes.</FONT></I></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">Last year, he shook hands with the President and with
Michelle—</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">those hands, those hands that play so beautifully the
“Ashokan Farewell” </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">on his violin that I love, so love.</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><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Ten
little fingers and ten little toes.</FONT></I></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">Commander-in-Chief, tell me this is all a
mistake.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Wake me!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Wake me from this blue-star dream!</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">I have been in this room before:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I have been at this window before.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">To honor him and all his fellow soldiers,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I stand.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">In prayer, I stand.</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">Second deployment:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bagram</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region
w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></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"></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Number of words: 203</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Number of lines: 30</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">first draft:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>July 10, 2012</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">revision:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>July 19, 2012</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">second revision:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>September 9-11, 2016</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><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>A many layered story told in a
powerful way with an economy of words.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I really like this poem, and find I need to knit-pick if I am to have
anything to say. It is a story about how we all come from disperate views of the
world and its realities. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>line 1quote . "A collective gasp
of wonder and amazement." quote. What is the difference between wonder and
amazement. Actuallly, the two are synonyms.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you need another word, use one that
expands the experience. For example, 'disbelief'. However two words works well
here. Just leave wonder or amazement out.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>I like the piece starting out
with dialogue to describe the audience reaction.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>line 3. The commenter obviously
believes<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that the power of the act
is based on the actresse’s performing ability. But the reader never<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>quite knows whether this is a
performance or the actress simply being hrself while being in an horrendous
situation.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>line 4. This is an interesting
comment. Is beautiful relevant<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to
the play? It serves the purpose of showing how many different points of view
there are in an audience. If expanded to life in general, it is an equally
important statement by the writer. so many things in this piece seem irrelevant
according to <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>different points of
view. We never get a clear grasp on reality. Certainly, the actress seems to
have a rather narrow view of her own life situation. I doubt her
credibility.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Lines 5 and 6. You’ve expanded
this idea of everybody coming from their own place.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Except, one of these two audience
members at least has the insight to know that he does not know what the actress
is really like. so, so far, that is the least egocentric position.The position
of doubt.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Lines 7 and 8: quote. That’s her
job, that’s what she does. quote. Realism takes on a shade of skepticism and
mistrust.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How can motives be
judged, when everyone is simply acting. How genuine can we trust people to
be?</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Lines 9 and 10: “quote I know. It
is almost scary.” quote the point is that it is scary. Probably most readers
will have encountered others, significant in their lives, who have pulled the
wool over their eyes. If the reader makes a connection here, it will be a very
powerful connection.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Lines 11 and 12: Now the one who
supposedly knows the truth (about herself and her world) has taken off pretense
and faces her world unprotected. But this is also an illusion.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>line 13: “quote Two burned out
bulbs, shadowed her mirrors.” quote I think these are tired, burnt out eyes,
which sees her world darkly. She sees only dark shadows.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>lines 14 and 15: she opens the
drawer and gets a bottle of alcohol. this is more testimony of her inability or
even unwillingness to have a clear perception of hrself and her world.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So the reader is not going to get a
‘true’ idea of this actress. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>lines 16, 17, 18. Her view of her
world is too painful to try to grasp. Life needs a buffer. a numbing . She
cannot stand to be there. so she attempts to escae from it, and thereby lose her
potential capacity to deal with it. Lern from it. grow from it.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Line 19. In other words, we cop
out.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>lines 20 and 21: We<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>wallow deepr and deeper into a swampy,
mucky mire, lost in our illusions of who we are and what the world is. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Lines 22, 23, 24. While she
stumbles around in Hell, she want’s a way out of the story.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>she thinks about the ultimate copout of
suicide. but at this point even suicide is an unclear venture. How can we escape
from a story we make<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>up ourselves.
Wouldn’t killing ourselves just be another chapter in this book of tragedy.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>lines 25 to the finish. Even as
she exits the stage, she holds on to her story. almost a willing prisoner. Her
fans are a major part of her fantasy. Everyone digs the drama</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>It occurs to me that writing the
whole piece in the present tense might be an even stronger approach. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Brad<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>The Curtain
Finally Fell<BR><BR>A Vignette by Brad Corallo<BR>word count 177<BR><BR>1. A
collective gasp of wonder and amazement.<BR>2<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>"Did you ever see anything like
that?"<BR><BR>3. "No, she is outstanding,<BR>3. What a performance!"<BR><BR>4.
"I thought she was so beautiful!<BR>5. I wonder what she is really like as a
person."<BR><BR>6. "Oh, I have no doubt she had to be playing herself."<BR>7.
"Well, she is an actress,<BR>8. That's her job, it's what she does!"<BR><BR>9.
"But it seemed so real!"<BR><BR>10. "I know, it is almost scary!" <BR><BR>11.
She sat alone<BR>12. Removing stage makeup in the dingy dressing room<BR>13. Two
burned out bulbs shadowed her mirror.<BR>14. She opened a drawer<BR>15. And
grabbed a pint of Bourbon<BR>16. Uncapping it she slugged directly from the
bottle.<BR>17. The anxiety and the rage<BR>18. Temporarily watered down. <BR>19.
She did not whish to return home.<BR>20. She hated him almost as much as she
hated herself.<BR>21. For the thousandth time <BR>22. she wondered why she
<BR>23. Didn't just end it all,<BR>24. Maybe tonight.<BR>25. She exited the
theater<BR>26. waving <BR>27. while her star struck admirers <BR>28.stood
reverently,<BR>29. beaming their worship<BR>30. into the empty <BR>31. rain grey
night. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">:-------</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Leonard’s critique of
Val’s piece.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I’ve gone for knit
picking here because all in all the piece is fine the way it stands. If I didn’t
look for details I wouldn’t have anything to say.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But consider some of my alternative
suggestions. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I like the way that
you do not define who or what the subject of this acrostic poem is. Probably
most people would say you are talking of Gd. But it could be your muse, an
inspiring person in your life or any number of alternative possibilities.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">One issue I have for
acrostic poems is that it forces the shapes and lengths of lines in ways that
often seem compromising to me. I suppose all poetic forms do that when the rules
are strictly followed. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">1.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Consider saying: searching the depts. of
my soul. Instead of saying: Searching in the depths of my
soul.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">2. Examining the dusty
corners…<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You don’t need the article
‘the’. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">3. Again I look for words to catch: consider using the
word ‘grasp’ instead of catch. It’s a small matter of preference, but to me the
word has slightly different nuance in meaning and<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the ‘r’ and<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>‘s’ sounds<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>make the following line run better.
Which is, “rivers of emotions you inspire.</FONT></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><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Lines 5, 6, and 7. I love those lines just as they
are.</FONT></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><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Lines 8 and 9: great lines.</FONT></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><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Searching<BR><BR>1.
Searching, in the depths of my soul,<BR>2. Examining the dusty corners of
spirit,<BR>3. Again I look for words to catch<BR>4. Rivers of emotion you
inspire.<BR>5. Cloudy defenses fall away and light comes<BR>6. Healing and
bright with the sound of your<BR>7. Incredible voice.<BR>8. Nothing can reach
me, in all <BR>9. Glimmers of experiences as you can so
freely.<BR><BR></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></o:p></SPAN></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>