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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Living In The Inexorable Decline<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 195<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The yet uncorrupted among us,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>who have fought for the very survival<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the damaged, reviled and under privileged,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the have- nots of human society ,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>struggling to climb out of the swamp,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>grow weary as time erodes our dedication. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Even the greatest, hard- won strength<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>can be slowly warn away <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>by the day-to-day slippage <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of basic human decency.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We live in an age where despots<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are admired, strutting their barefaced lies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in front of all, somehow gaining a following. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tyrants, who oppose the needs of the many<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>somehow persuade those to support them! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It hurts to view each day,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the ideals of excellence crumble! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cheap surface gloss, mediocrity and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>false shows of sincerity and commitment<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are the standard fare of society’s blue-plate menu. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I find myself growing so weary!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When the tears fall for no immediate reason. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am overwhelmed in the face of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>one piece of negative news after another. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Knowing that no matter what I do,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I can’t fix it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All I can do is weave<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the dispiriting elements of reality<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>into a stark, dark tapestry of words. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Which alas, is far from being enough! <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><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>