<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Abbie<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></i></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></i></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><u><font size="3">I love this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">poem.</font></u><font size="3"> </font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>It is full of pathos and sweetness. It
definitely pulls at my heart strings. </u><o:p></o:p></font></font></i></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">A VISIT TO AN ELDERLY
MATH TEACHER</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">In the seventh grade,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">a teen-ager with dreams</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">of making it big in the music scene,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I couldn’t have cared less about mathematics, </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Consider ‘for’
instead of ‘about.’<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">struggled with equations, fractions.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">He was patient.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I was never famous.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I wonder why you
included this line. Whyy is it relevant?<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Almost fifty years later, </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">after performing at a retirement home,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I approached the old man, </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">shook his frail hand, </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">gazed into his tired eyes.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Do you remember me?” I asked. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“I was one of your worst students.”</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">“No, I don’t believe that,” </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">he answered in a halting tone.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Did he not recall, </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">or was he being kind?</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><div style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0in; border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Alice</font></st1:place></st1:city></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">This many layered piece is profound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">My comments were made without reading your hints. I thought that would
be cheating.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">I read your hints after I
made my comments, and left the comments as they were. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">This first stanza has many different
possible interpretations, and that is a wonderful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">quality.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">There is a play betrween tension and resolution.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Some possible interpretations might include:
The resolution of life in the peacefulness of death. It might be saying</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">that our path is to become a as children
where hurt is resolved in healing tears and sleep at the end of a hard
day.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">It is possibly a message of hope.
Hold on because all will end well.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Trilogy: An Acrostic Trinity of
Humanity</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">by Alice Jane-Marie Massa<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part 1. The Clockwork of Humanity</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">H</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">old on, hold on--<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">u</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ntil<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">m</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ajestic<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">a</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ngels<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">n</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">estle<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">i</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">nto<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">t</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">eardrops and<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">y</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">awns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part 2. Acrostic Crossroads of
Humanity</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> </font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3">A microburst against negativity<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">may be like a brief flash of light</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">that turns darkness into something beautiful.
A micro burst may have insignificant effect, or it can be powerful enough to
create a universe. It depends on the condition of the heart.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">An open heart</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">or a loving heart</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">must be part of
the equasion</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">to change the world into
something possitive.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Without that
quality, we cannot understand what a brief opening in consciousness is showing
us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">This tenderness must manifest in
action.<o:p></o:p></font></u></b></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">H</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ow can we<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">u</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">nderstand<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">m</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">icrobursts<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">a</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">gainst<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">n</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">egativity<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">i</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">f<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">t</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">enderness<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">y</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ields to other choices?<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part 3. Untangling Humanity</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> </font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3">Hope untangling miracles<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">can mean that with an attitude of hope, we
can see miracles. Without hope, we do not see</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">and cannot understand miracles. It might also mean that possitivity</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">facilitates miracles. So miracles are both
created by our point of view, and they are seen through the lense of hope.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Probably</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">both.<o:p></o:p></font></u></b></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">H</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ope<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">u</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ntangles<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">m</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">iracles--<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">a</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ddresses<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">n</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ightfall,<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">i</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">cicles,<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">t</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">orn pages from<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">y</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">earbooks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">These examples are beautiful. I especially
like the torn pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">They are parts of
our life that we have left behind. Either we experience them as things we have
lost,. Or we experience them as things we hold in our hearts.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Nightfall is the darkness. Icicles</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">are the cold knives that cut into our hearts</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">and minds. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3446214796msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">number
of words: 61<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">------</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Brad<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I think this piece
needs a publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">When you ask, “Who
are these people?” you are saying, “They are us.” In the Passover</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">dinner, at one point in the ceremonial meal,
the door to the abode is opened to invite anyone who is there to come in and
partake of the food. The question is formally asked, “Why do we do this.” The
answer is, “Because we were strangers in the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">land</font></st1:placetype><font size="3"> of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Egypt</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3">.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">How is it that we forget this simple truth
and obligation?<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I can find no
changes to recommend. Cudos.<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The Vast Unwanted</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Creative nonfiction
by Brad Corallo</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Word count 283</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">After Nine days on the road,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">almost all of their supplies had been exhausted.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The water skins and food bags were empty. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Wearily they trudged, covered by the dust of the road.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Their exposed skin sun burnt and insect ravaged. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The man carried a long knife and</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">a meter long heavy cudgel hung from his belt.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">On her right hand the woman wore a ring</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">with a concealed spring loaded razor blade </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">to seriously discourage wood-be rapists.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Their two children with distended bellies combed the roadsides</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Seeking for anything edible or useful. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The animals, a goat and a dog;</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">ribs showing through dry mangy pelts,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">trailed behind looking for unconsumed crumbs. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Bombs had devastated their last temporary home,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">a squalid transit camp belonging to no country.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They had no definite destination;</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">just anywhere with a chance to work,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">find water and buy some food. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They were part of the vast unwanted.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Ever increasing populations scattered Around the world.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They had no homes, no countries,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">few friends still living</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">and no definite prospects.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Once, they had hope.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">But, like the food and water, none remained.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">In spite of this, they continued to move forward doggedly.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Because, you never know,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">around the next turn, their might be </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">a fellow traveler with </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">a crust of bread and a kind word to spare. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Who are these people?</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They are everyone and no one.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">swept aside, rootless and wandering.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">They are members of the human race,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">hated by many </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">and shown compassion by shockingly few,</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">other than some of their own. </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Where and when was the kindness and decency of our species
lost? </font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><div style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0in; border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><st1:personname w:st="on"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">jamesstarfire@gmail.com</font></st1:personname></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Val</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><table class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><td style="padding: 0.75pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Date:</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></td><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><td style="padding: 0.75pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Fri, Nov 16, 2018 11:11 pm</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></td><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></tr><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></tbody></table><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Stages<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Child,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">growing, yet
knowing<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">she is the reason
<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">parents fight--<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">her eyes don't
work like theirs.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">She feels guilty.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Powerful verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">A jolt to the heart. Sccinct.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Teen<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">doesn't fit the
unspoken rules...<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">silently, she
takes in the<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">mockery and being
left out...<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">nothing new, just
an extention of<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">home.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">This says so much<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">in such a tiny space.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">The last
line is particularly whamo.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Married,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">she tends house,
cherishes husband,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">baby girl is a
miracle--<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">a sparkling light
full of<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">laughter,
goodness and questions.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">A beautiful
darling who <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">tugs at her soul,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">soul aching when
she's hurt or unhappy.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Of course that is going to change. These are the
wonder years.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Mom,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">suddenly, child
grows distant,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">pulling away and
confronting--<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">battling for
independence from mom,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">who cries while
doing laundry;<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">dish water hides
the hurt and turmoil<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Clever and sneaky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">It took a while to understand how dishwater could do that.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">that flows down
sink hole with agony.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Mom</font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><font size="3"> has found her place in the early child
years, after having felt out of place<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">until she became a mom. But now that identity and belongingness is being
torn away by the natural inclinationss of her child</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">fighting to find her place as an adult.
Beautiful verse.<o:p></o:p></font></b></font></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Widow--<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Who am I now that
two becomes one<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">with"our"
and "we" vanish in to<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">"I" and
"me"<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">jagged loss turns
loneliness<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">brilliant and
flaming,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">heart is engulfed,
shattered to ashes.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Now she isn’t even a wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">She is more alone than she has ever been in
her life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">This is a well trod path, but
no less gut wrenching.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Of course, life
requires continual re-definition. An oasis is just a stop in a journey.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Later,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">grief there on
slow burn, life pieces<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">spread and looked
at carefully.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The Child
accepted her difference.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Teen now knows
difference is a gift.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Wife and mom
watch her baby grow up,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">leave home,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">become a woman.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Husband, beloved,
lives in her deepest heart.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The years of integration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">The internalized child, teen, wife, mother
and widow</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">goes through grief, life
evaluation, acceptance and becomes whole,</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">having been processed in life’s ovens. Unfortunately, not everyone does
life as well as the writer’s subject. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">Bravo to the</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3">
</font></span><font size="3">heroine. (The Heroe’s Journey)<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">She writes,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">has insatiable
love for<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">books, music,
cats, dolls,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">dreams.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Although not perfect, life is mostly , as the song
goes, “So Good.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Stages<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">weave a life
tapestry<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">bright, dark,
always changing<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">as time, tears
and prayers<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">become her
coloring. Book.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Take a boe.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Valerie Moreno<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">11-16-18<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">______<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Place your mind
in the softness of life's eternal flow...<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> -Saint
Clare of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Assisi</st1:city></st1:place></font><font size="3">,
1194-1253<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/basic"><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Jump to Toolbar</font></a></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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