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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 style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Ode to Sleep<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>© Brad Corallo<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>word count 194<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sleep provides the caressing peace<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that quiets the waking mind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As the years pile up,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> the precious nature of the gift <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>is ever increasingly apparent. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>! We live in a world of clammer and clang!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sales pitches, political lies, bad music<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and floods of useless information,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>assail our senses constantly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>24- hour talk radio, 24-7 news channels,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>sports call in shows that are never silent and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>assorted smart phone notification tones<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>have not made the world a better place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Just a louder one <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> drenched with continuous strident babble. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Unfortunately, at times <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>enough sleep can be allusive. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this can result in waking time<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>filled with unsettling, distracting mind noise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Such makes the daily chores of living<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>far more frustrating and tiresome. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For some anguish and depression <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are the unavoidable consequence, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>resulting in the pursuit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of a better life through chemistry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Time has shown me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the beauty and importance of the lullaby as alternative. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Perhaps enough, peaceful, restful sleep will<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>enable humanity to awaken one day,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> clear eyed and free<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> from the seeds of madness, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>it has so thoroughly, yet unwittingly sown <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in the rich soil of its own history. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>jamesstarfire@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>