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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Here are two short poems that might not take too long to critique, given I am so late!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I AM<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am closet shy,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A creative lavender otter,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A voice for equality and justice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A gentle chime in the storm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Determined to be a purple eagle,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Soaring high over Pikes Peak in the sunshine.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*******<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Distance<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When my children were small, I tucked them into bed each night<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I drew a magic circle around their beds, to keep them safe from all harm while they slept.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They believed that a mother’s love was strong magic.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I still draw magic circles around those I love each night.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now, they enclose friends and family from Kentucky to California, from Connecticut to Washington state.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My circles loop and stretch to cover distance, and I pray they will hold back the evils prowling this time of darkness. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 573-544-3511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:dqnoriega@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>dqnoriega@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Author of <i>Fifty Years of Walking with Friends<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>