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<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u>Abbie</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u>I couldn’t find many change suggestions. It’s pretty
tight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It certainly treats winter as a
time of despair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By this time many of us
are ready to say, good riddance.” I understand winters in Wyoming can be quite harsh. Try to remember
this feeling in early August when the only mid-day breezes are blasts of hot
air. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You might consider making the point
of reference in the first person, so it would read, “My garden… est.”</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="text-align:center" align="center">GARDEN</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">G</b>roceries
from one's own back yard,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">a</b>sparagus,
corn, peas, tomatoes,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">r</b>ejuvenate
life and the world,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u>Revitalize is an alternative which has a lot of
long ‘I’ sounds to internally rhyme with life.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">d</b>estroy
last vestiges of winter,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">e</b>nd snow,
cold, despair.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u>I like the way snow-cold despair can be read as an
adjective of despair.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">N</b>ew
beginnings come forth. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Alice</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u>Definition of a group of poets: A group of female
Poes rhyming the mysterious side of night.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>This was a lot of fun. I love it. However, I
don’t know how to pick on it. I did make a series of comments, though. I had to
think a lot to come up with them, and that was half the fun.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A colony of beavers</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="tab-stops:.75in">must know something</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="tab-stops:.75in">about colons and semicolons.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Do they know how much a costaRico colon is
worth in New York?</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A sleuth of bears<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">hibernates to envision</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">the highs and lows of detective stories.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A kaleidoscope of butterflies</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">flutters around fictional fantasies.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">But, what do we call</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a group of poets?</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A murder of crows</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">sounds appropriate for </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a group of mystery writers.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Are the crows victims or victimizers?</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A flight of doves</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">must develop</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">many creative ideas.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>As in a flight of fancy.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A convocation of eagles</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">must ease into</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">historical fiction.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Are they able to see truths in history that
only their eagle eyes can see?</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A cast of falcons</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">must focus on</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">TV scripts and stage dramas.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>In my opinion, hawk eyes are as good as eagle
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are not only good cast
members, but they have an eye for casting. the cast.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A stand of pink flamingos</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">perches upright and ready </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">to present behind</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">any podium.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Where they often embarrass themselves and
turn pink. </u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">Perhaps, you can think of what to call</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a group of poets.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A cackle of hyenas</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">have to turn to comedy.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A troop of kangaroos</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">can write military history.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A leap of leopards</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">jumps into a variety </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">of genres of literature.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A charm of magpies</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">channels their talents</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">into romance writing.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A watch of nightingales</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">knows when to write </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">bedtime stories for children.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">Before the end of this night,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">please tell me the name</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">for a group of poets.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>A mob of poets writing in all directions.
Following rules, making them up as they go, and for some a four letter word.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A parliament of owls,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Trying to write about “who” they are, and
getting nowhere.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a pod of dolphins, </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Who write about seals and whales.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a pride of lions,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Who believe that poetry is the only<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>writing worthy of their efforts.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a company of parrots,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Who rarely write about anything original.</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a kit of pigeons,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Don’t take what they write to heart. they’re
only kidding..</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a litter of puppies—</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u>Shouldn’t that be ‘letter’ of puppies?</u></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">all meet to ponder</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">the predicament of naming</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a group of poets.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">Near the Poetic License Branch,</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">a<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>chattering
of squirrels</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">may reveal the choice.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A game of swans may select</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">the winning name.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A descent of woodpeckers</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">may tell us their pick.</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">A dazzle of zebras</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">strongly endorses:</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">"a passion of poets."</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">However, I vote with</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">an exaltation of larks</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">and their proclamation of</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">"an exclamation of poets."</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">We will write, </p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">discuss, recite, and critique</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">poetry:</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal">welcome, and come join my</p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Exclamation of
Poets.</b></p>
<p class="aolmailmsonormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Brad</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>The title is intriguing. It states that this story is a
recurring dream, and it does work that way. However, there are implications in
this dream that the people in the railroad station are dead and waiting for the
train to take them home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I assume home would
be different for different people depending on what they believe. But the two
interpretations of the title have a profound effect on how the story is perceived.
If the dream is not about death, but waiting for Gdo, then it’s a
psychologically derived anxiety. It is more than a dream, all hope ends
there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I like the idea that the title
sets up a unresolved mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In either
case, it is a story about hope, faith and giving up.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>When the PLF arrive it becomes obvious that the scenario
has played out innumerable other times.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their
message is that there is no purpose. We are destined to play out a meaningless,
nowhere existence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wonder if Bernie
looses his faith every time he has the dream or whether in this telling he
looses hope for the first time. Would he even know?</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>This is a well told, story. Very depressing. There, are
you happy now?</u><br>
Bernie's Recurring Nightmare<br>
C By Brad Corallo<br>
Word count 416<br>
<br>
The small, desiccated, white haired gentleman sat on the old scarred bench<br>
that ran around three of the walls in the damp, dark, dingy railroad<br>
station. He wore a clean though thread bear grey suit and scuffed black<br>
Oxfords. Between his feet was a stained old duffle bag whose color may once<br>
have been blue.<br>
<br>
A chance sound caused him to try to look through the ancient window glass<br>
which was covered with the grime of years during which time it may never<br>
have known the touch of a cleaning rag. He saw nothing. He said to him self<br>
"she's acommin' down the line, the Glory Train."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>I love the visual descriptions. They really set the mood.</u><br>
<br>
An old woman who snored in the corner echoed in a sleepy voice"she's a<br>
cominn' down the line." <br>
<br>
A ragged old man who was lying under the bench said "how long you been<br>
waitin'?"<br>
The gentleman, Bernie thought and said "bout a yearin ahalf."
"And you<br>
still believe?" the ragged old man asked with contempt. <br>
<br>
"I gotta get home and I'll be agoin' on the Glory Train. She's comin' down<br>
the line" he said with conviction.<br>
<br>
"You're a fool" the ragged old man spat. "That train is nothing
more than a<br>
myth. Once it was a hope but now, empty wind!"<br>
<br>
The sound of automatic rifle fire split the early morning quiet. With that,<br>
three heavily armed, uniformed men crashed through the door and said "no<br>
body move, this station, in fact this entire railroad is now under the rule<br>
of "the peoples liberation front (PLF). <br>
<br>
"Here we go again" said the no longer sleeping woman. <br>
<br>
"I advise you to comply with our orders. If you do, you will not be
injured.<br>
But for starters, none of you are going anywhere!"</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>The PLF gives this story a whole new tier of meaning.
Poloitical movements, or even social movements, that are meant to free us, most
often end up enslaving us. In short we aren’t going any where.</u><br>
<br>
A terrible awareness lit in Bernie's eyes, "it doesn't matter, we never<br>
were!" he said, in the voice of a man whose eyes were finally opened and<br>
whose last hope was finally dashed. <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Val</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>This is absolutely beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think I could see your process of choosing certain
words and being careful not to use the same words twice. I made some
suggestions of alternative words and a few minor things. </u><br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ultimate
Decision<br>
<br>
River flows with terrible
speed,<br>
taking everything in its path </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Takes everything</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
within its' unyielding force.<br>
<br>
Survival dimb for fragile creatures<br>
clenched in its' power,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Clenched in its awesome power. Needs 2 more beats for
rhythm.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
yet, a single hope glitters.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>The rhythm changes here.</u><br>
<br>
Against teaming circumstances,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Against the teaming tide.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
refuge is utmost, sliding beneath unmoving rock--<br>
crammed in wet mud alone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Cleaving to slick mud alone.</u><br>
<br>
Against impossible odds, we cling to love,<br>
a strand of hope, thinner than fear.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>I love thinner than fear.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Spinning prayers toss us from the torrant<br>
wounded, yet unbroken.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b></p>
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