tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69320801408350618752024-03-13T19:53:01.443-07:00Changing WindsWritings by Guitarist-Composer-Counselor Jeffry Steelejeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-78781277827282622862024-03-10T15:49:00.000-07:002024-03-10T15:49:34.027-07:00Monica at 72<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Comes the time to honor</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">she who I hold most dear,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">As we look back on what has been</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">As strange as any year.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">At times we’ve seen what others have</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">As something more desirous,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Though gladly we’d have done without</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">the famed coronavirus.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">You helped us become owners</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Of a stylish get-away</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Where others will maintain the grounds,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Postponing our decay.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ensconced beside a waterfall</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Sourced from Mountain Lake</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">By the century-old resort;</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">No more to pull the rake.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">In an era not so far behind</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">We might presume such dreams,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">But the cloak that veiled us is right now </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Unraveling at the seams.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">‘Twas the year that we came to accept</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Life on our island home</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Supposes supply chains that </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Won’t outlast the fall of Rome.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Together we bear witness</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">As more slip the safety net</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">And we peel away denial</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">About how bad it’s going to get.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">If I had to pick one person</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">To face this future with,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Whose encouragement and passion </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Moves one to fully live,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">‘Twould be the she who also</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">loves digging in the dirt–</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">when our hands meet to fold a sheet </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">is still the one to flirt.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Entering this uncertain age</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">for what are we to strive?</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Aren’t those who build community </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">most likely to survive?</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">If so I am especially blessed </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">with this mate to my soul,</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">the sum of our parts being </p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">ever greater than the whole.</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Every moment that I gaze on her</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I’m thanking the creator</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">For the one I’ve loved and grown with</p>
<p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Who might well have been a stranger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C56X0aNj9cw4iytQmqV6fON86lrd57skZolTvLuZgonm07ebZ-hEZUC0bsPiasaYS8VtAXHfC27Ts-iCV18Tgk0YEmQBfuobhrQlTb032GQZOOF3hmbd1_3YBxl7Vwhs_p_2vGGFl3FIuGdZeP_dDPeTB8BKTrSjFBLhtIgxGd4-p-0TopRfXdhHJiM/s1280/IMG_0504.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C56X0aNj9cw4iytQmqV6fON86lrd57skZolTvLuZgonm07ebZ-hEZUC0bsPiasaYS8VtAXHfC27Ts-iCV18Tgk0YEmQBfuobhrQlTb032GQZOOF3hmbd1_3YBxl7Vwhs_p_2vGGFl3FIuGdZeP_dDPeTB8BKTrSjFBLhtIgxGd4-p-0TopRfXdhHJiM/s320/IMG_0504.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: Papyrus; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-36096274022820387312023-12-25T15:51:00.000-08:002024-03-10T15:54:10.367-07:00Giving Socks at Christmas<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aTVaPiks0QBlajzec4J4aYtvmno3TG4doT1VhNLJOv_dIt82uNPQ4MgCtjhtN0YvsDd5RX_YU1WUHDv8_yIz-ygrzkBmQmg4AcQw4Yc9xmJJ8hxvOdsUxfrCQxCnggGhQfOdGBDCw_ZB8G-hN3tSz5WPcSLYVX4Q80CEBt6UHtFEDPK_dfqIhJGEmUQ/s1280/IMG_0567.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aTVaPiks0QBlajzec4J4aYtvmno3TG4doT1VhNLJOv_dIt82uNPQ4MgCtjhtN0YvsDd5RX_YU1WUHDv8_yIz-ygrzkBmQmg4AcQw4Yc9xmJJ8hxvOdsUxfrCQxCnggGhQfOdGBDCw_ZB8G-hN3tSz5WPcSLYVX4Q80CEBt6UHtFEDPK_dfqIhJGEmUQ/s320/IMG_0567.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Charter; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;">[spoken in 6/8 time]</span><p></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">‘Tis the night before Christmas; </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">I search through the houses</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">For gifts that one niece, </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">two siblings and spouses</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">Find useful both within </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">and outside the home </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">And end up requiring </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">no more than one poem.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">While some things improve </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">from my getting this old,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">It’s no less hard to handle </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">these feet growing cold.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">For once comes the season</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">to set back the clocks</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">I’m soon disappointed </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">with all of my socks.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">The price of thick wool pairs</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">put me in a sulk;</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">Till I made a decision</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">to order in bulk!</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">I hope it’s no problem</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">they all are sized L,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">As I’ve seen how wool shrinks</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">so for all I can tell</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">They’ll eventually qualify </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">for a size M,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">Depending the method </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">used laundering them.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">May our feet being warm restore warmth to our hearts</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">To open our minds to our stressed counterparts,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">Who we cannot agree with yet cannot ignore,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">When the feelings they’re having voice words we deplore.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">May our listening disarm each one’s need to be right</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Charter; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Charter-Roman;">May soon come the dawning of rift-mending light.</span></p>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-84495593768947850282023-06-24T10:32:00.026-07:002023-08-01T11:18:20.573-07:00Verse medley from Lee Steele memorial<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For my mother’s memorial service I offered a medley of poems I had written accompanying gifts to her, spanning from her 81st to to her 95th birthday, along with extemporaneous commentary. [Click images to enlarge].</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscPx7xtcc81M51SzLSqCbEZLLoM88D1Sk-W3snp8el9He9DMGec-L1IANwlbcNqnya1LrLrOr5niyzKMSvmX_qK8xA47rzI3IGcZSPwxDaJ7Xy8zRrTwLHDzmJNsyaAeJNrCkLLmmSOgfPmRRwLgqaaO8_wsGrM3qoDK8ey2M7j_B4grDY4Etj0t1LJ8/s1584/IMG_0322.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1584" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscPx7xtcc81M51SzLSqCbEZLLoM88D1Sk-W3snp8el9He9DMGec-L1IANwlbcNqnya1LrLrOr5niyzKMSvmX_qK8xA47rzI3IGcZSPwxDaJ7Xy8zRrTwLHDzmJNsyaAeJNrCkLLmmSOgfPmRRwLgqaaO8_wsGrM3qoDK8ey2M7j_B4grDY4Etj0t1LJ8/w640-h494/IMG_0322.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis9DMqKitxxduhSc-YiHBWMeP-yLczXdaA15v6oCYCVobJElWKbdlsYUUFCWwrVYPWuWpbXhbAPyW1dSOk2kgK2wA0y8iIsXMigblnQxpgqbRu-GhUwOgHTEZNRa-FBQGP2j31SXnf8CkkCIR05eAyrousXHMtTxnuxh8qka1Jyzvsm39ZpcIzClPVhE/s1584/IMG_0323.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1584" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis9DMqKitxxduhSc-YiHBWMeP-yLczXdaA15v6oCYCVobJElWKbdlsYUUFCWwrVYPWuWpbXhbAPyW1dSOk2kgK2wA0y8iIsXMigblnQxpgqbRu-GhUwOgHTEZNRa-FBQGP2j31SXnf8CkkCIR05eAyrousXHMtTxnuxh8qka1Jyzvsm39ZpcIzClPVhE/w640-h495/IMG_0323.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">1. I spoke of how I picked up the family light verse tradition from my father following his passing…</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">To Mom (on her 81st birthday)</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Two <span style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><a style="animation-name: none; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; transition-property: none;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>times two<br />we tie the shoe<br />at first it seems so hard<br />three times three<br />we climb the tree<br />and look beyond the yard<br />four times four<br />we stamp the floor<br />and dance while someone sings<br />five times five<br />new friends arrive<br />we try out different things<br />six times six<br />we seek to fix<br />and learn to compromise<br />seven times seven<br />We cease perfectin’<br />It will take many tries<br />eight times eight<br />we delegate<br />our children grown and gone<br />nine times nine<br />We seek a sign<br />And climb onto a swan<br />Then may that ride<br />Move with the tide<br />and keep afloat till when<br />the sun sets all<br />the clouds ablaze<br />As we reach ten times ten</span></p></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">2. I spoke about her musical influence and performed the Prelude from Bach’s First Cello Suite</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To Mom on her 84th (in 12/8)</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">This birthday brings us to the extent</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of this home's capacity for things.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">(Even if only but ten percent</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of that housed at the Von Rosenvinge's).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Generations of Eckerts, Hamiltons, Steeles,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">All here well-represented,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">In photographs, keepsakes, aluminum wheels,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Obsolete or as yet un-invented.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">How then shall we trace back to its beginning</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">This ancestral accumulation?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Who first had the thought that, instead of discarding,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Possessions just change their location?</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Even J. S. Bach, cleaning out his drawers,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Was loathe to store in the basement;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Humbly accepting that all his great scores</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Would get tossed out by his replacement.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">But we who are mortal must put off till later</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The disposal of our earthly goods.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And you who were matriarch must now be curator</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Till we get ourselves out of the woods.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">4. I appreciated Nancy and Tom for revitalizing the Folly Cove homestead and taking care of Mom in her final years…</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Christmas Eve 2011 [age 86]</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">As much as we would like to think</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">we're setting our own course,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">An invisible hand tugs on the reins</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">of our trusting invisible horse.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Perhaps the wave that brought to us</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">these latest techno powers</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Washed away the seashells of </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our carefree, unclocked hours.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What, one may ask, did we once do;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">how did we flex our mind?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What forest paths did we explore;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">what wonders did we find?</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Would we recognize the brains we used</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">before our first P.C.?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Were we cursed or were we blessed</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">with inefficiency?</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Whichever the case, I must profess</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">what I do know to be true:</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of all the families I could have been in</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">I'm blessed mine was with you</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">5. I appreciated the Gloucester UU church, which was my spiritual home 1995-2000, where I got married to Monica in 2001, and where my mother attended and was active on the pastor search committee in recent years…</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">89th birthday</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Your eternity of searching</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Will yet be gratified</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When the next I.C.C. pastor</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Skips down from the sky.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Steps lightly from the cloud bank,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The one—so thought our brain—</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Twould hold us up should we bail out</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">From an over-crowded plane.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">There has been one cloud in the sky</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That does support my weight,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Helping me to stay aloft</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">While in a burdened state.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For you have also been my rock</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">As well as in the strata. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">(Now may we no more sully clouds</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With all our worldly data). </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">6. I spoke of my mother’s mission to get people together and build relations between us siblings…</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">2015 [age 90, family reunion]</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With each stab at birthday verse</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The best that I can do</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Is share those streams of consciousness</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That may apply to you.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Unlike my father's precedent,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">My rhythm varies little.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">In a world chaotic and unglued,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">It's easier to whittle</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">From that wood already milled</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To uniform dimension.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">May the woodshop of my mind</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Carve it with invention.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What does a birthday mark?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What length the shadow cast?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Is it just that less time lies ahead</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With more lodged in the past?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The cooking we have savored,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The flowers we have sniffed,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That they were long ago partook</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Makes them no less a gift.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Better we accept with grace</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The odometer's reading.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">There is no hack can sneak it back</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To aid us in misleading.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Bricks of time stored in the vault</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Absconded by a thief.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Though it would not feel like theft</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Had I the ego of a leaf.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To let go of my perch,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">No thought of asking more</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Than to take my humble place</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Upon the forest floor.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For is it not the final gift,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of our precious time on earth,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To feel and know a peace within</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Transcending death and birth?</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And so to you my mother,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Who gave my soul its entry,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Your deeds surpassing mortal thanks</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For serving as my sentry,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Patiently encouraging</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">My gifts all be explored,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Passing on the tools to build</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">A life of vast reward.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The most important lesson,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">You taught despite distraction:</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">I am enough just as I am,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">No need for further action.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">In parental mentoring</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We were truly blessed</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">By your offering of thought and skills;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our friends were so impressed!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">You encouraged us to not conform,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To give questioning looks.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Which left us, sadly, ill-prepared</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To rid ourselves of books.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We gather here to celebrate</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The last of a generation,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And for our collective willingness</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To stay in good relation.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">May that willingness stay strong</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Wherever we may roam,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Such that within the other's heart</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Each one may count a home.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">7. I reflected on the nobility shown by both my parents in spite of what had been modeled for them, their unconditional love for their children…</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">2016 [91]</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Twenty-nine years, twenty days between</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The dates on which we came</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Into this life, onto this earth,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And each received our name.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">From that name we made attempts</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To go against oppression</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That our privilege both brought about</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And left us space to question.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We helped ourselves to music,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Fine art and seaside dwelling,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Accumulating memories</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For later storytelling. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Which deeds will be remembered</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">By who it matters not;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">So long as it is known within</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We gave it our best shot.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">8. I talked about my mother’s receptivity to change and reinvention…</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">2017 [92]</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">One more reunion where I stand before</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">An aging grey relation</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Who I have known since the days</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That followed their gestation.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When TV sets were black-and-white,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When hi-fis had one speaker,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We said, “No, thank you” not “I’m good,”</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And the “Jordan” was a “sneaker.”</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">This all means I came from somewhere,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Some place I can rely on,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With roots that may grow deeper</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Than the stubborn dandelion.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And from the stem we flower;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">May the wind convey our seed</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To those who never did deserve</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To live in such great need.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And the gift I have to offer,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Seeing value in the other,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Was one of many I received</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">By grace of my dear mother</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">9. I appreciated how my mom never pushed me toward becoming a therapist myself, but was excited when it happened…</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">One common counseling practice,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When reviewing our excesses,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Is to scan our early childhood</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For the source of our distresses—</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Such as our earliest memory</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Regarding sex or money,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Why that which makes me feel morose</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Is that which you find funny.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">We may have process addictions,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Unveiled when we take stock.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Meaning a counselor may well ask</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">My earliest memory of Bach.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">In fact I can remember</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When first I was afflicted:</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For as in many families ‘twas</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">My mom got me addicted,</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Playing that First Cello Suite</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With her bow and D-string,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Denying the long-term effects</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">It might have on her offspring.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">This exposure may have started</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">At the tender age of six,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Finding me at 65</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Still desperate for each fix.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Yet my mother also nurtured gifts</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ill-suited to the stage;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Modeling compassion</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And principled outrage,</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The leveraging of privilege,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Holding space for others’ pain—</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Yet again to be a student,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Calisthenics for my brain.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Did she foot my tuition</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Just so we could talk shop?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Well, the end-effect was humbling,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Baring pretense I could drop;</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">I came a slight bit closer</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To living in the world,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">With movements yet imperfect,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">My sails hastily furled.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Music remains my ordered place</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To where I may retreat</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">From the emotional chaos</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of those who feel defeat.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">And when I start accounting</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For all they failed to get</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">The less I take for granted</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What’s so easy to forget:</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">That my mom was there for me</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Through things both large and small,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Discerning what made sense to say</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">When first-born hit a wall.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">What I’ve come to value most,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">However much I know,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Is to keep alive the memory</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of what it is to grow.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For this my mother models</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Right up through today,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Digging in her garden,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Painting like Monet.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">Remaining forward-thinking</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">While chronicling the past,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">She celebrates the present,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">A first who shall be last.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">More than ever we now need</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To hold our elders dear;</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">For she is the one who leads us</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;">To face changes without fear.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; animation-name: none; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">10. I introduced the hymn “In Heavenly Love Abiding”, recalling how mom had many hymns memorized in spite of not fully embracing Christianity. What I forgot to mention was that she led this hymn for my father’s memorial and that the last time we saw her alive–which was on zoom, other family around her in-person–Monica and I performed it for her. She passed a few hours later, making it likely the last music she heard.</div></div>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-83409644125473977492023-03-04T16:12:00.000-08:002024-03-10T16:14:20.429-07:00To Monica on her 71st<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtL48Q5HmtyAzzilYhc1nQ90ex23xTCsvqZXJhyphenhyphenKGbUF2M88FDwqRf5PzegnNWkaJ_2cfpLH3R0lfYfZCRshdPzFBTlRlWXjwHItkmr8JbvhrZkPUDOtuQZAD5P5oFle74IUZKpZJQ7WSfXUVjUtQZIGF1cnOvJs7wz7SLISVHWfu6-lHD69NNOraiMQ/s737/IMG_0599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="737" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtL48Q5HmtyAzzilYhc1nQ90ex23xTCsvqZXJhyphenhyphenKGbUF2M88FDwqRf5PzegnNWkaJ_2cfpLH3R0lfYfZCRshdPzFBTlRlWXjwHItkmr8JbvhrZkPUDOtuQZAD5P5oFle74IUZKpZJQ7WSfXUVjUtQZIGF1cnOvJs7wz7SLISVHWfu6-lHD69NNOraiMQ/s16000/IMG_0599.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-49568825011828544162023-01-01T16:29:00.053-08:002023-08-22T09:32:59.702-07:00Invocation: a psychotherapist-troubadour muses on the human condition (last draft)<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0d0c43f9-ae49-e6e7-2ef8-3b47b721aeb1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is slightly revised from the spoken word/music video </span><a href="https://youtu.be/JNzj3aQMuLY">https://youtu.be/JNzj3aQMuLY</a></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0d0c43f9-ae49-e6e7-2ef8-3b47b721aeb1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0d0c43f9-ae49-e6e7-2ef8-3b47b721aeb1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Towards the end of 2020</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started on this verse.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things were starting to look better</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But would soon be looking worse.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New insights I was gaining</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the counseling profession</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were helping me unravel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the conflict and aggression.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet completion’s proved elusive;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The quatrains keep on forming.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another headline fades to history.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The planet keeps on warming.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So it’s now or never, though I’m</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Far as ever from perfection.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just hope you somewhere here will find</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words worthy of reflection. . .</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHThAz-XRX7U3dhvrYG9GbqRViPLLYEf1KGas6YO8toerPIUQZY2aKlVKOFK-D5-R2qF54sR37ha2ls4HMjEjbwM6emHEl7tTimXXmerswMehGd4TlEqwJA_OfE9K7_KX4iz0cu66s5MHmgtMJ9DLlHex9No_C731YnTrea77QG72mIzlKyY65QMIR2U/s480/PNG%20image%205.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHThAz-XRX7U3dhvrYG9GbqRViPLLYEf1KGas6YO8toerPIUQZY2aKlVKOFK-D5-R2qF54sR37ha2ls4HMjEjbwM6emHEl7tTimXXmerswMehGd4TlEqwJA_OfE9K7_KX4iz0cu66s5MHmgtMJ9DLlHex9No_C731YnTrea77QG72mIzlKyY65QMIR2U/w400-h300/PNG%20image%205.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /> </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it knowledge or brash certainty?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The commentator asked,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standing in the pond at Auschwitz;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One half century has since passed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, it’s said division</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is increasing with each year. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There may be two sides but likely</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just one heart, beset by fear.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which fear, of course, depends upon</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just who or where we are.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Protections we may have in place,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So not to slip as far.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some fear flooding, some wildfires,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raging wounded men in blue,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear of automatic rounds</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aimed at the supermarket queue.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear of malnutrition</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When your farmland has grown bare,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear of respiratory illness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you cannot breathe the air.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A barrage of guided missiles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That make one fear the sky,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear of showing weakness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spite of who may die.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fearing Great Replacement,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fearing violent overthrow,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With systems more in chaos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Than a Punch & Judy show.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-82c91b89-7fff-5c9a-1c56-ccdd18a89f3b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dtMmZnRqONqzsaMHOInoD9PPn7a7uJJwuDWjlILKmGNep2qMC1f71E7zKidK7HNkyXzdalF3R51H2Xfwd6rGLIGu0fYdJl9Yiqur_WqsiB2F4sOnmWqxGBBz3MiIU3LHiiaxJFrM1dhfmMJ4UT1MieHRQfMp7ZI3ADvSP90u_DuxI2YozDFH5hIg11E/s766/PNG%20image%204.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="766" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dtMmZnRqONqzsaMHOInoD9PPn7a7uJJwuDWjlILKmGNep2qMC1f71E7zKidK7HNkyXzdalF3R51H2Xfwd6rGLIGu0fYdJl9Yiqur_WqsiB2F4sOnmWqxGBBz3MiIU3LHiiaxJFrM1dhfmMJ4UT1MieHRQfMp7ZI3ADvSP90u_DuxI2YozDFH5hIg11E/w400-h266/PNG%20image%204.png" width="400" /></a><span id="docs-internal-guid-82c91b89-7fff-5c9a-1c56-ccdd18a89f3b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal;"></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-82c91b89-7fff-5c9a-1c56-ccdd18a89f3b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just who is it we will find in that</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stage wagon, painted red?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s called Punchman; but we see</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just his puppets, not his head.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The puppets act out stories</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That become our public myths,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shape our haloed institutions,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Build the marble monoliths.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the puppet speaks sarcastic lines</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That seem to empathize,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The puppeteer starts testing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The crowd’s tolerance for lies.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repeating them until they’re “facts,”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defying true perception,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Presuming the beleaguered have </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survived on self-deception.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calling whistle-blowers “terrorists,”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indicted without proof,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While towards those truly wreaking terror</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s typically aloof.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By owning major news outlets</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout the world and nation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where most discuss the issues</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He controls the conversation. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wherever we spend money</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is there to get his cut.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is Blackrock. He is Vanguard,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long immune to antitrust.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Punchman cannot stop to think of</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ones whose lives he harms</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When for profit and prestige</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The veins are screaming in his arms.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One might think that for his children</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or their children he might ponder</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The planet they’ll inherit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That he’s worked full-time to squander.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead Joker’s incarnation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With painted grin as crass,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parades through Gotham City,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His float spewing poison gas.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If he convinces you progressives</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are the ones who spell your doom,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can they then still be the last adults</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still left in the room?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if resolved asylum seekers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have caused your loss of wages</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will you feel him pick your pocket,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or hear children cry from cages?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Punchman busts up unions,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Targets those who immigrate,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Insists the ones who love America</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are the ones who share his hate.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s in his interests to promote</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever crisis that encumbers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A battered outraged people</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From gathering in numbers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Debts and fees restrain us,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In accord with his design,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And drain us of the strength we need</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To join a picket line.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He tells working whites they’re chosen,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While he loots their meager wealth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Equating “freedom” with a disconnected</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life of serving self.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom . . . to strip the land</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And not pay any tax,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom . . . to ban the truth</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And ridicule the facts,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom . . . to let your carbon </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Footprint fill up craters.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom . . . to emulate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The infamous dictators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defend freedom of religion,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grounds to hijack education.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Declare freedom for polluters</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To destroy all God’s creation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whose right to endless profiting</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was granted him at birth?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The child who lacked for nothing,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Except inherent worth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whichever be the symbols</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We attach our freedom to,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When extolled on social media, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coagulate like glue.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The authors of the algorithms</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know well what makes us tick.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The manipulated brain</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tells the finger, “one more click.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tailoring the content</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To a smouldering obsession.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like to a substance, a disease</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which has its own progression.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpBMvOTi1zP9xmAVWt1x8D0IdNw7JimRD374AraBDHP9yMr7m7YK2I10ZEEbGva2jGAwHamOpa2L5VkOPScsm6oHwm2uqPUOe5ZrPPiEJzDbHZlOfJAW4LiuiifWaKpuodBpK_6oSkpfJXwFmesZGmKgvLyQwvCOuhV9sd8yZTISMaYLxBFgRzNsfQmg/s1600/PNG%20image%203.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpBMvOTi1zP9xmAVWt1x8D0IdNw7JimRD374AraBDHP9yMr7m7YK2I10ZEEbGva2jGAwHamOpa2L5VkOPScsm6oHwm2uqPUOe5ZrPPiEJzDbHZlOfJAW4LiuiifWaKpuodBpK_6oSkpfJXwFmesZGmKgvLyQwvCOuhV9sd8yZTISMaYLxBFgRzNsfQmg/w400-h328/PNG%20image%203.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aab9eb39-7fff-9756-2839-5f82a8e63a66" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some will get the patient parent,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who shows how to problem-solve</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without invoking threats and violence,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When conflict is involved.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it’s different for the children</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whose dad rarely spared the rod.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They don’t learn to negotiate,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But keep up a facade.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this narrative of upsmanship, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An egocentric tale,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You get ahead by causing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more principled to fail.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those who grow up in turmoil,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their attachment insecure,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are left to seek out on their own</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What can be known for sure.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Embracing a plain narrative</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That casts out shades of grey,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There being no one to co-regulate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Them through a stressful day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When she is the baby crying,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without parent to console,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will she one day learn to trust</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And not need full control?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if his father’s fragile ego</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forces him to feel less-than,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does that shape his sense</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of what it means to be a man?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether the receiver</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or deliverer of taunts,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most won’t see when their actions</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are in fact trauma response.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the bullied seek revenge–</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their mal-adaptive quest to heal–</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inside old wounds are festering</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’ve been trying to conceal.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If theirs be a family who depends </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On blind loyalty,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tribe’s only there to back them</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until they disagree.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those witnessing the hanging tree,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn somehow to condone,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And dare not speak out from the heart</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through fear of being disowned,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harbored by a faith that values</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those most willing to obey,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the charismatic human</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Claims to know what God would say.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When identity gets threatened</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All means justify the ends.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start talking like the other side</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll soon be losing friends.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We might not even notice when,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or what we’re looking for,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The day we get conscripted</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To fight the culture war.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Predisposed to feel resentful</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And robbed of dignity</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When those targeted by racism</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gain public sympathy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passing down through generations</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A need for keeping numb,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And to ban the actual story</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the school curriculum.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGqeS1yZwVr0ACaZg6VrSpNNjdUrS3t4h93wrwmHc8WIOITM89bAFMFjZc-Dm1RCslHI5dahtLq3DHterZXScXAuNzlSaaIUsNFoPN3lWE-XBnTvmuMNgc6lslHkDHdr9t2u0EVg4I-Ubh_vTiM6oz49OERE7tSzl5YiTFS1KlmMfOFeXex1vGRZ4k5U/s1080/PNG%20image%202.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1080" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGqeS1yZwVr0ACaZg6VrSpNNjdUrS3t4h93wrwmHc8WIOITM89bAFMFjZc-Dm1RCslHI5dahtLq3DHterZXScXAuNzlSaaIUsNFoPN3lWE-XBnTvmuMNgc6lslHkDHdr9t2u0EVg4I-Ubh_vTiM6oz49OERE7tSzl5YiTFS1KlmMfOFeXex1vGRZ4k5U/w400-h223/PNG%20image%202.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c142339-7fff-7240-d151-3666772721cf" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well yes, you look the other way</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If science comes demanding,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When your living depends upon</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That lack of understanding.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sacrifices for your children,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Send them to the finest schools,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While you pawn away their future</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aggrandizing fossil fuels.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blank checks go to your lobbyists</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who wink then, with a smile,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fork that hay to corporate livestock</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grazing both sides of the aisle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three hundred head of cattle</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stampede toward the bank;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a Boeing or Chevron logo</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Branded to each flank.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well informed of coming mergers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Senate cowboys from their mounts,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can’t stop grinning as the proceeds</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bloat their personal accounts.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though the Swedish teen Cassandra,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worked so valiantly to wake</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The traders and insiders</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From a dissociative state.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cancer deaths from Roundup,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The opioid overdoses:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See the company obfuscators</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Negate victims’ diagnosis.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One G.E. chief exec</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the eighties raised the bar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For worker deprivation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Others soon dared go as far.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now is Punchman that C.E.O.,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Forbes celebrated,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or a ecocidal system</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recklessly de-regulated?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was that system ever scrupulous</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Playing fair, above the belt?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or is a Nazi-playbook demagogue</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its inevitable result?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile in the Oval Office,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some will come to question why.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch Deep State step in to tell them</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just what rules they must play by.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then are Punchman and Deep State</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One and the same behind that curtain?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those who go back there don’t return; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So no one’s truly certain.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does one win election</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Representing one percent?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can subvert the process,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Certain not to be out-spent.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While talking gun and fetal rights,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Entitlements, taxation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You masquerade as working class </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though your world’s the plantation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where tax-sheltered oligarchs</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get their own jet or rocket.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the inmates and war dead</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Existed just to fill your pocket.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, call yourself “pro-life,”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though your profits come from death</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And impoverishing children,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once they’ve taken their first breath.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ending up the hopeless youth</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who buy your AR-15s.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You won’t get charged with murder</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where you lurk behind the scenes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And simply disenfranchise voters</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who don’t share your beliefs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then you cry, "election stolen,"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While actually, you’re the thief.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Federalist Society</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supplies you ideologues,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black robes for who ambition leads</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To wait on first-class hogs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get it down to just three justices</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plus six lifetime infiltrates</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who simply transfer rights from humans</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To your companies and states.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you won’t have to worry </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About votes the left can muster</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the bills you find displeasing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you have the filibuster.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’ll be no checks, no balances,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your powers undebated,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A scheme when fully realized</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is a people subjugated.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVz3Je8aq0NX8yK4wsXYr_vDMyXPfdpgj8n8rZPRONYFN5L7ROQxWOWgyvRUXWqUiWzoHa93tVPJASaYofQnSiJPrRcemMSsTO6tnwLK1bOxcrRnIgCST7pnfYNVIA50auE5UDAcWtOLh2PkJUCzK2eKoABD3g6KODP1Lv9iYHsFzHVR1eao4virmEQk/s500/PNG%20image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVz3Je8aq0NX8yK4wsXYr_vDMyXPfdpgj8n8rZPRONYFN5L7ROQxWOWgyvRUXWqUiWzoHa93tVPJASaYofQnSiJPrRcemMSsTO6tnwLK1bOxcrRnIgCST7pnfYNVIA50auE5UDAcWtOLh2PkJUCzK2eKoABD3g6KODP1Lv9iYHsFzHVR1eao4virmEQk/w274-h400/PNG%20image.png" width="274" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I would have found the words here</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too unsettling to believe,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But in time the myths I’d clung to</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One by one came due to grieve.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve for the indigenous</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By disease and rifles killed,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My forebears’ cellar holes dug out</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In ground their blood was spilled.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those I fancied freedom fighters,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of seventeen-seventy-six,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were simply bent on building their own wealth</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through slaves and politics.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve for all the soldiers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who sacrificed to serve,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the system they fought to defend</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kicked them to the curb.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve the land protectors</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stabbed by corporate thugs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grieve the private prisons quotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the code-name War on Drugs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve for the enslaved and lynched,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cruel construct of race,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Christians lacking eyes to see </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Christ in every face.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sitting down to eat I grieve</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The souls who daily face starvation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deserving nothing less than I</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So privileged by location.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My first president warned his nation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the weapon-sellers’ malice.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And when the next came to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">de-escalate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He wound up dead in Dallas.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was supposed to be Chicago,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CIA’s recruit had warned,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His last words: “I’m just the patsy!”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His TV death unmourned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One million Viets forced South from North</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bred conflict 'tween sharecroppers;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clandestinely a market built</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To sell twelve thousand choppers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arms merchants ever confident</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That Congress could spend more</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had the Gulf of Tonkin staged</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get their full-scale war.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve the reverend, the poet, the candidate,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their true assassins never seen,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For them and all those who spoke out</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Against our war machine.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was it the year of “Helter Skelter”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That Deep State was in its prime?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emboldened by what it</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Got away with that first time?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve for climate refugees</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who used to till the soil</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now caked and dry and wasted</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By our dance of death with oil.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grieve the military dollars,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fifty-seven K per second,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Destroying lives and habitat—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not by their ledger reckoned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They who could have stopped extinction,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With their endless spending power,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead bombed Muslim nations</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three times every hour.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supposing we compared our values,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had a humble conversation?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Might that free our shackled hearts</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From bias confirmation?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you lived among the wealthy,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And not felt the need to share?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or can you teach me how to survive</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When grocery shelves go bare?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has the class system held you hostage,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left you missing true connection?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does your soul pine for that day</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You drop it all in the collection?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you march with ten thousand</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chanting “El Pueblo unido…”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While above in office suites</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They plot to keep us dividido?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were you sold by bounty hunters</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To fill Guantanamo,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet have come to be a source of hope</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regardless where you go?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our revels now are ended,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though few yet understand</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That Punchman claims it’s all about</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supplying our demand.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don’t even have five years left</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To reset the carbon clock.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve ignored the Knowledge Keepers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making pleas from Standing Rock.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You who grew up nurtured by the earth–</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mother of us all,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who’s treating us now as we’ve treated her,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spite of warning calls.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did your people’s first encounter </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With those driven to possess</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leave you startled at their enterprising</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lack of humbleness?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All refugees from foreign lands</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where naught they could survive;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is not their common origin</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some place we colonized?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My ancestors were Vikings</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who sacked the Emerald Isle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were the starving Irish—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As immigrants, deemed vile.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On whose backs came some to prosper,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To ride a limousine?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How’d exploitation become Christian</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the age of Constantine?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to find our gratitude</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For time we have been given,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn what’s ours to sacrifice for lands</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And waters that keep living.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With no latitudes remaining to</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Escape extremes of weather,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We could perish each in solitude</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or we could act together.</span></p>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-41069954644370495142022-03-04T18:39:00.001-08:002022-04-10T18:47:08.728-07:00Monica's 70thIn spite of efforts to step back<br />and contemplate our lives,<br />Time’s bus won’t stop to let us off.<br />We must go where it drives.<br /><br />Have we become more interesting<br />from all the ride has shown us?<br />Or do we seem eccentric<br />To those thought to have known us?<br /><br />Blessed has my journey been<br />Since the driver let you on.<br />I moved my baggage off the seat<br />So to it you’d be drawn.<br /><br />And with you came two passengers<br />Whose names both start with N.<br />Or was I the one to board your bus?<br />For ‘twas not much later when<br /><br />I moved in with my tabby cat,<br />Who shed hair orange and soft.<br />Next we added one lowrider pup<br />Who slept with paws aloft.<br /><br />There too was that slender cat<br />Who refused domestication<br />To complete our blended family,<br />At least till emigration,<br /><br />When we traversed the country,<br />Arriving in detachments.<br />Mine contained the animals<br />With the trailer of attachments.<br /><br />From Tacoma did each family member<br />Drift up to this isle,<br />Joining a collection<br />Of Atlantic coast exiles.<br /><br />Somehow you made it happen,<br />A driving force benign,<br />Nurturing this family,<br />Both human and canine.<br /><br />For every problem that emerged<br />You fashioned some solution.<br />I’ve lost count of the ways that<br />You’ve enhanced my evolution.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi26YJIm9A9Jc-J9PDKcHcfc0mefezyOPrAXsiEDVihPCSNeoARHet5d6vZxVBlNJqwA1hV0TEYV3wVS7AurIz0ujB7OpcV6_JflN942cjxW_itnYVkM1SW0AwlbqyeKvIgT_8l1jtO2TcAsJkYbyg8N7ZHHE_PrgotBUzmi9dmN9g6MuqGI2CuUC/s1280/at%20obstruction%20pass.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi26YJIm9A9Jc-J9PDKcHcfc0mefezyOPrAXsiEDVihPCSNeoARHet5d6vZxVBlNJqwA1hV0TEYV3wVS7AurIz0ujB7OpcV6_JflN942cjxW_itnYVkM1SW0AwlbqyeKvIgT_8l1jtO2TcAsJkYbyg8N7ZHHE_PrgotBUzmi9dmN9g6MuqGI2CuUC/w400-h300/at%20obstruction%20pass.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-63248407869168948892022-02-25T17:54:00.026-08:002022-04-10T18:10:26.640-07:0050th anniversary reflectionDear Class of ‘72,<br />With a handful of you I go as far back as the Fall of 1960, first grade at Brookside, when the Steele family migrated from Gloucester, MA. My father made his career shift from marine engineer to prep school teacher at the invitation of our Summer neighbor, then-headmaster Harry Hoey. My mother also found the area conducive to her professional development as an MSW. I now appreciate how my parents modeled finding meaningful work that contributes to the community.<p align="left" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; direction: ltr; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5ZPIfke52vP6jdSZiH7gYD8uiNqbzbBj0fGAbKuLKAlEDwK_DBN0E1qO3uib5INh_pbWlIZq0muTYKjWaou5MayUMpxTTpnAPLb3Nn9RpVpTIKzkguPjIDONsLQyrii2uwFkxPbuM4uEMOrWdEp5oZ2TKuch8udVwQh6fh1gwIFgcbSi0JvMWjiE0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="999" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5ZPIfke52vP6jdSZiH7gYD8uiNqbzbBj0fGAbKuLKAlEDwK_DBN0E1qO3uib5INh_pbWlIZq0muTYKjWaou5MayUMpxTTpnAPLb3Nn9RpVpTIKzkguPjIDONsLQyrii2uwFkxPbuM4uEMOrWdEp5oZ2TKuch8udVwQh6fh1gwIFgcbSi0JvMWjiE0=w287-h320" width="287" /></a></span></div>There was one part of me rebelling against Bloomfield Hills materialism in conflict with another part that loved living on a sheltered, manicured campus which inspired one to artistry. In my adolescent preoccupation with identity formation, I may have come off as arrogant at times. I didn’t have a strong identification with a particular graduating class—many of my friends graduating in ‘69, ‘70, and ‘71. Enjoyable memories of ‘72 classmates include: rocking out with John G and Jimmie (and in Lower School with Miles, Steve, and Dean), dancing with Robbie and the rest of Jessie’s crew, putting on Gallimaufry of Gambols with Christopher and Nick, Debbie and the rest in our West Side Story cast, auditioning Ladies of the Canyon with Paul in his dorm room, Bruce tromboning in our “Cranbrook Brokene Consort,” and let me not forget winning a prize of a “Last Train to Clarksville” 45 with Phoebe in 7th grade Social Dance...<br /><br />After attending Hampshire College, travels in Britain inspired me to migrate to Newburyport, MA—where some life-long friendships began. Seeking wider opportunities (musical/romantic) I moved to Cambridge. I sold shoes for the Sikhs while giving recitals, the latter generating offers to teach guitar at community music schools. My performing got some press during this period and I became active in the Central America solidarity movement. A highlight was Denise Levertov reading at one of my benefit concerts. Having been certified to teach K-12 music while an undergrad, I began classroom teaching when relocating required me to give up my guitar students. Though more stimulating than private lessons (particularly after Orff training), I couldn’t sustain any position beyond three years—my values eventually conflicting with the school’s culture (would be one way to put it). Back in Gloucester, I struck up a collaboration with a choreographer, resulting in a series of successful community dance dramas. I put out six CDs of originals and classics, most sales coming from gigs. With my wife’s and mother’s encouragement I overcame my aversion to graduate school and got a Masters in Composition at New England Conservatory. My main axe is now the 8-string. Though covid and other priorities have curtailed my performing for the time being, I have a lot of music waiting ready to be shared.<br />While these memories all relate to my vocation of music, in retrospect I would say my ultimate ambition was securing a meaningful marriage. My first wife and I must have realized we were in a “starter marriage” as we did not have children—though we offered an open door to the neighborhood children in Turners Falls, MA. She introduced me to a swimming routine and Re-evaluation Counseling, gifts lasting to this day. It was not till the start of the millennium that I met my present wife, Monica, and assisted in the parenting of her two sons. She introduced me to 12-step recovery, woke me up to the reality of brain and mood disorders, and engaged me in music ministry. We are ever weeding the co-dependence out of our blissful inter-dependence!<div><br />We were living in Tacoma when, in August 2012, my car window was shattered by a (presumably dope-sick) thief—perhaps God was trying to get my attention. Following a year of human services study at community college—a working class welcome-home—I worked as a Chemical Dependency Professional and was soon back in school for a second, more practical, masters—in Counseling Psychology. I set my sights on getting a community behavior-health position on beautiful Orcas Island in the Salish Sea. While not sure if I have assumed the mystique therapists long held for me, my insight and compassion have increased, and with them a trauma-informed perspective on our divided nation. When the age of many of my coworkers, I lacked the humility and the boundaries this work requires. I’ve come to accept that what is needed from me—even more than whatever music I may offer—is the harvest of personal growth my privilege has made possible.<p align="left" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; direction: ltr; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2_R_dqJKmC1Sl4or5nTtNizTrMMXwnRivrFCZXAYJRPR49qAkO3cSR1BeboHDWmucZL7T_n2rxTd2lOu8fTlZ2vf8FSorRagbujVZ-fPPuUM7HzIFxqsqIKyRqaEdRLZXg20GtdD1rK4sMy-Hq_6laU1PrJpj2iaHrEK4CuVz-jcavv-xFwxHO_op" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2969" data-original-width="2956" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2_R_dqJKmC1Sl4or5nTtNizTrMMXwnRivrFCZXAYJRPR49qAkO3cSR1BeboHDWmucZL7T_n2rxTd2lOu8fTlZ2vf8FSorRagbujVZ-fPPuUM7HzIFxqsqIKyRqaEdRLZXg20GtdD1rK4sMy-Hq_6laU1PrJpj2iaHrEK4CuVz-jcavv-xFwxHO_op=w398-h400" width="398" /></a></span></div><p></p></div>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-59202756948589466992021-03-04T18:21:00.003-08:002022-04-10T18:38:59.576-07:00Monica's 69thTime has come to build upon<br />A legacy of verse.<br />Inspired by your birthday,<br />Further rhymes shall I coerce.<br /><br />Dare I reflect on all that’s happened<br />Through the strangest year we’ve known?<br />When this gets read some future day<br />How far will we have grown?<br /><br />The virus so invisible<br />Moved like an eclipse,<br />One day in the nursing homes<br />The next day on the ships.<div><br /></div><div>Who was it last I saw unmasked<br />And who might they have seen?<br />Since no assurance could be sought<br />I started quarantine.<br /><br /></div><div>Banished to the upstairs,<br />You resolve to fix my meals,<br />Leave them on the landing.<br />Not too bad a deal!<br /><br />It was a fearful period<br />That came to verge on comic,<br />Brought back our first memories<br />Of courting days platonic.<br /><br />Now banned from the kitchen,<br />What needed to stay cold<br />I store outside the backdoor—<br />Northwest climate-controlled.<br /><br />For some time we don’t even dare<br />To venture out by car;<br />Feels post-apocalyptical<br />In lands both near and far.<br /><br />We take long walks six feet apart<br />And I explore by bike,<br />Concealed along Madrona Creek<br />Whose gurgling sounds I like.<br /><br />With dwindling respect for the signs<br />To stay out of the park<br />We park by the perimeter<br />So to the falls embark.<br /><br />And as the air starts warming,<br />We inflate our tandem<br />Paddling nearby sound and lakes<br />With wildlife sightings random.<br /><br />How bad has this all been for us?<br />We seem to have a buffer<br />That keeps us and our loved ones safe<br />While many others suffer. <br /><br />You visioned a new family member,<br />Having Rob construct its bower.<br />And after false starts, suddenly<br />We give a husky shower.<br /><br />And just as you anticipate,<br />With instincts maternal,<br />Our days grow more chaotic<br />Yet progress in things fraternal.<br /><br />What is this ever-seeking<br />To make memorable this life,<br />To do right by all its creatures<br />That motivates my wife?<br /><br />How blessed I am to have you<br />Occupying the same bubble<br />To hold and cherish as we age<br />If not stay out of trouble!</div>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-78178404017106592482020-09-17T20:51:00.003-07:002020-09-21T20:53:46.978-07:00Nancy's Birthday<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB734stjBTgrgFqNfXxTh7b_5icdJZJFws5-UrmTMXsNR9vfFji2rQPDRWjWmenJC-Y-tVOAbBmiq-bDW7ScWueW412GHtR1HpQr_a0MZB9KK4Ls_dLcRSRUUhZtKBUmUqIj3V5c6lpk/s706/nancy+b-day+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB734stjBTgrgFqNfXxTh7b_5icdJZJFws5-UrmTMXsNR9vfFji2rQPDRWjWmenJC-Y-tVOAbBmiq-bDW7ScWueW412GHtR1HpQr_a0MZB9KK4Ls_dLcRSRUUhZtKBUmUqIj3V5c6lpk/s16000/nancy+b-day+2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-14593785406247614692020-08-06T17:46:00.002-07:002020-08-06T17:57:56.128-07:0020 Quatrains for Mom's 95thA common counseling practice,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P5x4he1V08NnxijI44ZJWwvZF_dCt-57FeIa5Lx92immi4plFefiTa6nrzmI06llcsij2DxWljGtAXNG6Nbu2Yupp5jj45Mkc7eQKxpSGoyWeb4b1tpmbhpaV4-wXXIkTJhFmYVvf08/s2048/IMG_0309.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P5x4he1V08NnxijI44ZJWwvZF_dCt-57FeIa5Lx92immi4plFefiTa6nrzmI06llcsij2DxWljGtAXNG6Nbu2Yupp5jj45Mkc7eQKxpSGoyWeb4b1tpmbhpaV4-wXXIkTJhFmYVvf08/w307-h410/IMG_0309.JPG" width="307" /></a><br />When reviewing our excesses,<br />Is to scan our early childhood<div>For the source of our distresses—</div><div><br /></div>Such as our earliest memory<br />Regarding sex or money,<br />Why that which makes me feel morose<br /><div>Is that which you find funny.</div><div><br /></div>We each have process addictions,<br />Unveiled when we take stock,<br />Which is why my wife would ask my<br /><div>Earliest memory of Bach.</div><div><br /></div>In fact I can remember<br />When first I was afflicted:<br />For as in many families ‘twas<br /><div>My mom got me addicted,</div><div><br /></div>Playing that First Cello Suite<br />With her bow and D-string,<br />Denying the long-term effects<br /><div>It might have on her offspring.</div><div><br /></div>This exposure may have started<br />At the tender age of six,<br />Finding me at 65 <br /><div>Still desperate for each fix.</div><div><br /></div>Both my parents in this way<br />May well be implicated—<br />Despite impracticalities,<br /><div>Outright facilitated</div><div><br /></div>My pursuit of the aesthetic.<br />The world became my cactus;<br />I had the notion everyone<br /><div>Would love to hear me practice.</div><div><br /></div>But this felt out of balance,<br />performative, some say,<br />With self-involvement lingering<br /><div>On this page for display.</div><div><br /></div>Yet my mother also nurtured gifts<br />Ill-suited to the stage;<br />Modeling compassion<br /><div>And principled outrage,</div><div><br /></div><div>The leveraging of privilege,</div>Holding space for others’ pain—<br />A quest which sent me back to school—<br /><div>Calisthenics for the brain.</div><div><br /></div>Even if she supported that<br />Just so we could talk shop,<br />The end-effect was humbling,<br /><div>Baring pretense I could drop;</div><div><br /></div>I came a slight bit closer<br />To living in the world,<br />With movements yet imperfect,<br /><div>My sails hastily furled.</div><div><br /></div>But music makes my ordered place<br />To where I may retreat<br />From the emotional chaos<br /><div>Of those who feel defeat.</div><div><br /></div>And when I start accounting<br />For all they failed to get<br />The less I take for granted<br /><div>What’s so easy to forget:</div><div><br /></div>That my mom was there for me<br />Through things both large and small,<br />Discerning how to offer help<br /><div>When first-born hit a wall.</div><div><br /></div>Likely most important,<br />However much we know,<br />Is to keep alive the memory<br /><div>Of what it is to grow.</div><div><br /></div>For this my mother models<br />Right up through today,<br />Digging in her garden,<br /><div>Painting like Monet.</div><div><br /></div>Remaining forward-thinking<br />While chronicling the past,<br />She celebrates the present,<br /><div>A first who shall be last.</div><div><br /></div>More than ever we now need<br />To hold our elders dear;<br />For she is the one who leads us<br />To face changes without fear.jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-71185366669826753862020-04-23T13:50:00.000-07:002020-05-03T13:51:22.221-07:00Coronadaptations<i>Written for my clients/families to accompany our agency's lockdown gift box:</i><br />
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The world since we last saw you<br /> Has been a little strange,<br /> Our weekly time of hanging out<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> One of many things to change.</span><br />
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We’re told to be so guarded<br /> About something we can’t see,<br /> What we touch or what we breathe.<br /> We have no guarantee<br />
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That we won’t get infected<br /> Or infect someone else,<br /> And no one really knows for sure<br /> How anybody tells.<br />
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A curse cast from the Dark Side?<br /> Or is it consequential<br /> Of corners cut, of facts ignored<br /> Becoming monumental?<br />
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Yet some of you are saying,<br /> In spite of all this worry,<br /> That good things are resulting<br /> From not being in a hurry,<br />
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From families having time to spend<br /> Playing with each other,<br /> Sometimes easing conflicts<br /> ‘Tween a sister and a brother.<br />
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But if that turns out not the case<br /> At least you still have us,<br /> To summon on the phone just when<br /> You feel the urge to cuss.<br />
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We will put our heads together,<br /> Though not all in one room,<br /> To offer our best thinking<br /> And smile at you through zoom.<br />
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You are the ones we wish for,<br /> The ones we want to thrive.<br /> We hope this box gives comfort<br /> Till we once again go live!</div>
jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-27153992918940040502020-03-04T08:17:00.000-08:002020-03-05T08:22:40.026-08:00For Monica on her 68th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETl-tLnx8B2hIsrZzbbTxP7KfbuK1DDPbpO7OQqFBblyEbS3PAyx6SxAeUPVaZ_v9InunuWhI7MVxnqINjMunG4ifYjqE7tTMZk9-SgG2WxvxpZvnvQ6Cl8ufHGlfVafgoEl1QT1Zqjs/s1600/IMG_0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETl-tLnx8B2hIsrZzbbTxP7KfbuK1DDPbpO7OQqFBblyEbS3PAyx6SxAeUPVaZ_v9InunuWhI7MVxnqINjMunG4ifYjqE7tTMZk9-SgG2WxvxpZvnvQ6Cl8ufHGlfVafgoEl1QT1Zqjs/s320/IMG_0343.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Desperately we cling to reason<br />
in this profane election season—<br />
all our relations put on edge<br />
while the planet nears the ledge.<br />
I see your years now may be quartered—<br />
when back through time we are transported—<br />
it was the month if not the hour<br />
that marked the rise of Eisenhower,<br />
who in his final speech as president<br />
identified the forces resident<br />
that would long outlast his tenure,<br />
intent on having wars forever.<br />
From that time since you have been standing<br />
up for justice and demanding<br />
that those who barely have a voice<br />
be heard and offered equal choice.<br />
It’s because you never compromised<br />
that you and I have harmonized.<br />
Ever waging the good fight,<br />
you shall remain my shining light!jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-44061754057000264292020-02-13T19:42:00.000-08:002020-02-18T19:43:57.468-08:00Appreciating Re-evaluation CounselingThis letter to the editor may have arrived too late for publication, so I'd at least like to share it here:<br />
I found Jay Efran's "In Search of New Ideas" [Psychotherapy Networker
Jan/Feb 2020] helpful and fascinating, and I appreciated his inclusion
of Re-evaluation Counseling. But to someone who practiced RC for much of
the period between 1985 and 2015, his description represents only one
facet of a multi-faceted practice. Yes I agree—as a licensed therapist
who has also samp<span class="text_exposed_show">led a variety of
modalities—that the "discharge" process could not be consistently
counted on for healing of a distress recording. But there were many
affecting factors—the experience of the counselor, the client's stage of
change, the quality of supervision—much as in any other therapy. I see
my current job as psychotherapist as motivating clients to act on their
thinking instead of their feelings. In RC settings I witnessed at least
as much, if not more, progress toward that goal as in any other
therapeutic setting. To attend an RC workshop was more than "exchanging
time." There were cutting-edge insights presented including how
oppression is experienced by different constituencies, healing trauma,
and how to be the change you want to see in the world. Whether Harvey
Jackins' insistence on operating outside the "mental health system" was
out of stubbornness or out of necessity, I experienced him as a
brilliant and compassionate innovator. I would be half the counselor I
am today had I not begun with RC.</span>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-61424749467924655592019-12-21T08:32:00.002-08:002019-12-21T08:32:35.350-08:00Tome Poem #3<i>Written to accompany a Christmas gift of <u>Revolutionary Love</u> by Rabbi Michael Lerner...</i><br />
<br />
Our <b>wait</b>ress may be rapid-tongued,<br />though <b>cheer</b>ful (for the tip).<br />Per<b>spir</b>ing cooks flip pancakes<br />where <b>we</b> begin our trip.<br /><b>Pho</b>tos line the fake wood grain,<br />a <b>cen</b>tury of pride.<br />Gene<b>ra</b>tions building war planes,<br />gaining <b>vic</b>tories for our side.<br /><b>Next</b> we crowd the airport gate,<br />dis<b>cern</b>ing social clues<br />for <b>how</b> it is we must behave<br />to <b>keep</b> what we could lose.<br />And <b>then</b> I board the aircraft <br />with my <b>step</b>son and my wife<br />and <b>pon</b>der how it was these things<br />be<b>came</b> our way of life—<br />how <b>we</b> became entitled<br />through <b>hap</b>penstance of birth<br />to <b>eat</b> three squares, to travel thus<br />on <b>not</b>-yet-ravaged earth.<br /><br />We may <b>think</b> we choose our actions<br />on <b>prin</b>ciples well-founded,<br />but more <b>like</b>ly rationalize them <br />off of <b>those</b> we’ve been surrounded.<br /><b>Once</b> we judged the white folk<br />who viewed <b>slav</b>ery as the norm.<br />But aren’t <b>we</b> just as oblivious,<br />as <b>wil</b>ling to conform?<br />No <b>bar</b>rel for the plastic,<br />fuel <b>burned</b> without compunction—<br />main<b>tain</b>ing time-worn patterns<br />of dis<b>pos</b>al and consumption.<br />As <b>though</b> this weren’t all finite,<br />that it <b>is</b> somehow ok<br />for each <b>spec</b>ies to be downsized<br />till we <b>join</b> them in the clay.<br />For the <b>globe</b> that’s market-driven<br />has no <b>hu</b>man at the wheel—<br />sees <b>noth</b>ing past the bottom line,<br />a re<b>al</b>ity surreal.<br /><br />Though ‘tis the <b>sea</b>son to be jolly<br />and seek <b>com</b>fort from the weather,<br />there <b>is</b> so much to grieve alone,<br />seems <b>time</b> we grieve together.<br />From that <b>grief</b> may we find courage<br />to <b>stand</b> up for each other,<br />ex<b>tend</b> the line who we define<br />as <b>sis</b>ter or as brother.<br />The com<b>mun</b>ity thanksgiving, <br />in<b>stead</b> of once per year,<br />may <b>soon</b> be happening daily—<br />if <b>we</b> can still the fear.<br /><br />Aren't we <b>now</b> beyond protections<br />that <b>may</b> be bought or hoarded?<br />Will it <b>be</b> by what we give away<br />that <b>we</b> end up rewarded?<br />What <b>worth</b> my private comforts,<br />on <b>which</b> I have been leaning,<br />if a <b>life</b> based on self-interest<br />is <b>one</b> devoid of meaning?<br />Will <b>clim</b>ate and extinction<br />be the <b>class</b>less equalizer,<br />inter<b>ven</b>tion on a system <br />strung out <b>on</b> some tranquilizer?<br />For, re<b>gard</b>less if we see it,<br />we <b>are</b> still slave and master.<br />Just <b>ask</b> who stitched your clothing<br />or sur<b>vived</b> the last disaster.<br /><br />What <b>we’ve</b> been sold, if truth be told,<br /><b>Ne’er</b> sat right with me.<br />And <b>on</b> reflection I believe<br />the <b>same</b> would hold for thee.<br />For we <b>each</b> have common interest<br />that we’ve <b>long</b> been kept from knowing,<br />to <b>keep</b> us all divided,<br />which <b>keeps</b> this system going.<br />Su<b>pre</b>macy and racism<br />are <b>means</b> to someone’s end.<br />That <b>some</b>one is your master<br />cha<b>ra</b>ding as your friend.<br />This <b>mas</b>ter has more money<br />than <b>all</b> of us combined.<br />We <b>may</b> have far more people,<br />but our <b>peo</b>ple are resigned,<br /><b>wear</b>y and discouraged<br />in <b>need</b> of clear direction.<br /><br />Of ne<b>ces</b>sities these souls may lack<br />the <b>great</b>est is connection.<br />And <b>so</b> I humbly petition<br />re<b>ci</b>pients of this gift<br />to con<b>sid</b>er how this author’s thoughts<br />might <b>bring</b> about a shift<br />in <b>those</b> with whom you interact,<br />i<b>deal</b>ly when in-person,<br />il<b>lum</b>inate the darkness,<br />by <b>draw</b>ing back the curtain.<br />These <b>times</b> can leave one feeling<br />it <b>on</b>ly can get worse.<br />Why <b>bo</b>ther organizing?<br />Why <b>bo</b>ther writing verse?<br />What<b>ev</b>er confidence I’ve found<br />to <b>prod</b> my comfort zone<br />was <b>nur</b>tured in the family<br />I’m <b>blessed</b> to have here known.jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-52859125673861532812019-07-21T10:37:00.000-07:002019-07-24T10:38:21.305-07:00Lucia's 21st<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZixOCUR8sZFMrnC1pGKHyBkTFwGCIeDoL4EId3MS5FhAey9o7XckQfHl9W0Y5Q_ZiR8NlW7vLSn5Z6bjjW1AUi3AGaBxjRkrk-yuz1gQDElD9zLRBnOEHCme5fJ1Rp1Wp5xokisvsW3U/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZixOCUR8sZFMrnC1pGKHyBkTFwGCIeDoL4EId3MS5FhAey9o7XckQfHl9W0Y5Q_ZiR8NlW7vLSn5Z6bjjW1AUi3AGaBxjRkrk-yuz1gQDElD9zLRBnOEHCme5fJ1Rp1Wp5xokisvsW3U/s320/IMG_0093.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We hope this birthday finds you </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">soaring like an eagle,</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">without over-indulging </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">on activities now legal.</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We hope you’re standing for up </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">for truths that be self-evident,</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">that where you find yourself </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">is matched well to your temperament.</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And that you’ll bear in mind,</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">as the temperature increases </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(wondering who can set things right </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">judging from their speeches),</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">that out here in the San Juans </span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">the climate remains stable,</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">and there will be a place for you</span></div>
<div style="color: #017100; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">seated at our table.</span></div>
<div>
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jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-21852650931009946502019-04-12T22:21:00.001-07:002019-04-12T22:23:23.873-07:00For my brother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_sEQaINd7OamP6NV7LJfF0hH1ArlRag7ilarTni-vT8AchYfEaTxrqyFJazbFwW1pBsqg4SWuktqs4RKGBboG3sPSAA0FUWx2vVqLC7yIeXDlGebfmaNULQNXLsYlgDPiwycboXSfKk/s1600/safe_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_sEQaINd7OamP6NV7LJfF0hH1ArlRag7ilarTni-vT8AchYfEaTxrqyFJazbFwW1pBsqg4SWuktqs4RKGBboG3sPSAA0FUWx2vVqLC7yIeXDlGebfmaNULQNXLsYlgDPiwycboXSfKk/s320/safe_image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Again the month turns April;<br />
one year becomes another.<br />
I try to decide if ever I’d<br />
made rhymes up for my brother.<br />
Perhaps I did for Christmas,<br />
or a song I once performed,<br />
But not commemoration<br />
of the day that he was born.<br />
The reason I may offer<br />
(well known to the masses):<br />
A mere three days it comes before<br />
the deadline for our taxes.<br />
Yes, the table where I write this<br />
is well be-strewn with papers<br />
Concerning items purchased<br />
and income for our labors.<br />
Likewise we hope on the twelfth<br />
you give yourself a break,<br />
Not be mired or too wired<br />
explaining what you make.<br />
<br />
As has been my pattern,<br />
in choosing what’s for giving,<br />
I search up our old icons <br />
to see which are still living.<br />
Indeed there is one Elvis<br />
who long outlived the other—<br />
More than likely not still being<br />
followed by my brother.<br />
Well remember I the day<br />
I waited at your place,<br />
Curiously removed Costello's<br />
record from its case;<br />
How high did sound his voice;<br />
his band buzzed like a hive!<br />
Unaware was I the platter<br />
spun at forty-five.<br />
Forty years have come and gone<br />
since then; can you believe?<br />
<br />
More memories where that came from,<br />
now pleasant to retrieve,<br />
Of each our lives unfolding <br />
finding just the mate<br />
Who draws us into purchase <br />
of excess real estate.<br />
And though we may be dwelling <br />
at distant longitudes—<br />
Your clients seeking better sounds <br />
while mine seek better moods—<br />
There’s one connecting vector <br />
that may not be ignored.<br />
For like the mug you fashioned, <br />
my key includes your chord.jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-73249467042031388152019-03-04T21:33:00.003-08:002019-03-04T21:53:53.259-08:00To Monica on her 67th<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">What makes birthdays more special</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">when divisible by five ?</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">What do we even learn from </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">counting years we’ve been alive?</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Are we still meeting milestones </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">such as when we started walking?</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Are there skills we still must learn </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">through more listening and less talking?</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">There comes a realization,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">the older we have grown:</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">how pointless is attachment </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">to the objects we may own.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Is it wisdom we develop, </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">as our numeral increases,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">or does that come more from our luck </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">assembling jigsaw pieces?</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">As I pondered what to get </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">my dearly loving spouse,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">I decided ‘twould be best to </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">not add flotsam to the house.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Then I recalled her envy</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">of my mp3 collection—</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">organized by artist, styles </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">of every predilection—</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">which up till now she accessed </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">commandeering my computer—</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">her timely exploitation </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">of my status as commuter.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">But now I’ll be around more,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">for better or for worse.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">My five-minute commute leaves time </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">to generate more verse!</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">I next copied all my music files,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">leaving out head-bangers,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">finding more room on her hard drive </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">than on her closet hangers.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">No Streisand or Sinatra,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">for they’re a bit too slick,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">or metal which my student </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">once described as wicked sick.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Yet still she ends up having</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">a playlist so replete</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">‘twill play from now till mayday </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">before any tracks repeat.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">But all of this is merely</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">window-dressing on a life </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">where I’m blessed as the husband </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">to a most intriguing wife,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">who daily fills my coffers </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">with hope and inspiration,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">and lifts me when I stumble </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">on this path to liberation.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
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jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-14159139159861697012018-12-30T13:13:00.003-08:002018-12-30T13:22:12.242-08:00Grief, Fear, Dancing<style type="text/css">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">On and off over the years we have woken to a CD alarm. Recently I switched the disc to the Tallis Scholars recording of Josquin's </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Missa Pange Lingua.</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Though I take issue with their modal reading (refusing to raise the leading tone for minor-chord cadences!) they make an enjoyable sound; and theirs was the only CD version available to me in the 90s of this Renaissance masterpiece. (Some of you may recall this also being the mass I recorded on two guitars). At the stroke of seven, as the opening chant first filled the bedroom, I became convulsed with sobs. It was one of those cries that seems to come out of nowhere yet out of everywhere. Twenty years ago, after the nurse phoned to inform us that my father's marathon of monitored starvation was run, this very music was playing as I entered his hospital room. Perhaps intending to have the whole album repeat, she had pressed the button on the CD-player that repeats the first track only. Knowing it to have been the last thing he heard in this life, I therefore experience this plainchant as a portal to his soul. One memory bridges to another from a few years before when, following an operation, Dad was lumbering around the house on crutches. I was painting window trim while Mahler's Third played on the stereo. Unable to conceal his sobs while passing by </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">en route</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> to the bathroom, he made an attempt at excusing himself muttering, "this music undoes me." Perhaps, then, I am genetically predisposed to such music-induced weeping.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Grief is terrifying to face until you do. In our culture most primarily associate the process with the passing of a loved one. But every day we have had to act OK with injustices around us in the local and global community. We need to grieve the indifference—in violation of our inherent nature—we adopted to get through each of these moments. A few weeks back the preacher at Emmanuel Episcopal in Eastsound (also a therapist) in discussing the alienation and injustice resulting from capitalism reflected, "all we can do is grieve." By this I believe he meant that we cannot take effective action without grieving first—that is, ceasing to numb. I think of the Argentinian song "Solo le pido a Dios": All I ask of God is that I don't become indifferent to pain, to injustice, to war, to deceit, or to the future. It feels like those elements have all ramped up in the 40 years since the composition of that song; the songwriter Leon Gieco, it must be remembered, was then living under military dictatorship. Grieving offers an antidote to indifference. During my period active in RC (Re-evaluation Counseling), I got practice "discharging" grief in the context of regularly scheduled sessions. I got to a lot of tears by repeating the direction "I refuse to numb myself to injustice in the world." No longer scheduled, I presently grieve only when it hits me. Every day the headlines confront us with the choice to numb or grieve. When choosing the former we slip into addictive behaviors—behaviors that, especially as practiced by the world's wealthiest, drive the destruction of our planet and all its species. As with music performance, we get what we practice. Numbing leads to more numbing and to cynicism. It is when we choose to grieve that we create an opening in our shield for hope to slip in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Those of us who have administered substance use disorder assessments know the diagnostic criteria that qualify a client for mild, moderate and severe levels. Most of these concern willful ignoring the consequences of use (exemplified in another song: "there's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes.") Unchecked addiction to lining one's pockets might explain how some born predisposed to compassion for living things can develop the tolerance for cruelty seen today. For the addict brain is a merciless hungry reptile—the crocodile waiting under the bridge for whatever prey falls in. The addict brain experiences fear but understands nothing. I imagine it dwells within all of us to a greater or lesser degree. As a child it was of utmost importance that the closet door be closed at night because I was imagined there to be ghosts in there. As I matured so did my fears. Autocratic leaders, driven by their own addictions to wealth and power, gauge their message to the fear-maturity of the public they were misplacedly entrusted to serve.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">As much as I miss having more time to devote to music*, having the day job as a therapist helps moderate my own addictive proclivities and maintain something of a balance between serving others and indulging myself. Recently becoming a provider in the suspect mental health system has given me a glimpse through the eyes of those challenged by societal expectations. Who am I to say whether my ability to cope is any less functional than their dysregulation over being expected to cope with a world that makes so little sense? Perhaps you have been hearing recently about Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 15, diagnosed with depression, obsessive compulsive, and autism spectrum disorders. The first two would appear appropriate reactions to having one's eyes open to present reality (that on top of whatever personal trauma may have been experienced). The latter (neurological) diagnosis—whether resulting from genetics, toxins in the environment, or whatever—affords her a perspective in social interactions that cuts through the BS. Being a female young person adds to her vulnerability—a vulnerability that qualifies her to speak truth to numbed-out adults. In addiction treatment we also assess for stages of change: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, and Action being the first four. Greta is in the Action stage, and she implores the rest of us to leave behind the self-involvement that keeps us in fumbling about in the first two stages. She may not picture herself courageous as much as sensible. Her activism is a dual intervention on behalf of her own mental health and a terminally ill planet. Allen Ivey (who I read for a career development class) wrote about the therapeutic value in "client-collaborators" taking decisive actions against the societal sources of their oppression. Systemically we penalize those who cannot accommodate themselves to an irrational culture and reward those who can. But we desperately need the former to lead us out of this mess we're in.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Each time I hear intoned the words of Paul, "love casteth out fear," I see more areas where it applies. In her book <i>Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control</i> —mentioned in the accompanying poem—</span>Heather Forbes identifies love is the crucial element missing from typical interventions practiced with traumatized youth. Once caregivers start feeling manipulated by a child most will default to acting on that feeling rather than maintain the objective curiosity required to lovingly or effectively address the child's behaviors. The deficit of secure attachment means the child lives in fear, expressing that fear in behaviors that stimulate adults' fears. But it is not solely adoptive youth, the objects of this book, who experience chronic fear and lack of love. Who carries out hate speech that does not feel both unloved and fearful? Show me someone who feels truly connected to other humans who rallies with white supremacists. As with children or adolescents, they can make no sense out of persuasive arguments until their needs for love and connection are met.</div>
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<span class="s1">I imagine that some of you may not have read this far if the post had been titled merely “Grief, Fear." For I would also like to recount times doing kitchen tasks when my phone—in shuffle mode and through a loudspeaker—starts playing a track by Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. My feet are suddenly at the mercy of the boom-chick of rhythm guitars. My knife-wielding arm slices zucchini slaved to the backbeat. Whether the meal even gets prepared becomes of secondary importance to my expression of joy at being alive in this time and place. I heard that Django's unchecked spontaneity meant that he often did not show up for his gigs, leaving bandmate Stephane Grappelli to carry on as best he could. One readily hears that fully-alive quality in Django's impish, fiendishly clever, live-wire solos and fills. It leads me to ponder if it is possible to live the moment so well without burning out so fast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I quoted the minister above saying "all we can do is grieve"; can we likewise say "all we can do is dance"? While living in Gloucester I was blessed to have a friend in songwriter Joanne Schreiber. Knowing her death was imminent, she organized one final performance at Blackburn Studios. She did not take the mic, however, until she had greeted us all individually with a hug and brief exchange. A few weeks later we gathered in that same space to memorialize her. The CD of her song "Ooh Your Love" was put on and we all danced together. One might expect it to have posed a barrier for Joanne that I was a straight Christian male. To the contrary, she offered unconditional acceptance and held out for the dancer in me.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">___________________</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">*I was able to get 20 pieces recorded this past Fall, my first efforts on the 8-string. You may listen at <a href="http://soundcloud.com/jsteele-2"><span class="s2">http://soundcloud.com/jsteele-2</span></a>. In the new year, as my position shifts to my own island, I anticipate recording videos of original pieces in the hours I currently lose to commuting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-44594279772084022632018-12-20T12:57:00.000-08:002018-12-30T13:29:43.913-08:00Scent of Hope<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">[accompanying a gift of <i>Braiding Sweetgrass</i> by R.W. Kimmerer]</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Chinese lights are twinkling</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">and I'm </span><span class="s2">in</span><span class="s1"> the gifting crunch.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">‘Tis the s</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ason when each sunset</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">starts up sh</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">rtly after lunch.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s2">Li</span><span class="s1">kely you’ll be groaning:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">“H</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">re he goes again,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">with inc</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ssant rhyming couplets<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">and long-</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">verdue Amen!”</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">But r</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">cently I’ve verified,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">as </span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">ne observant reader:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">nearly </span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">very line of Emily’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">was </span><span class="s2">in</span><span class="s1"> this very meter!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">B</span><span class="s2">li</span><span class="s1">thely do I burden</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">the e</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">rth with one more poem</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">while ins</span><span class="s2">is</span><span class="s1">ting it be tethered<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">to y</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">t another tome.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">At f</span><span class="s2">ir</span><span class="s1">st I thought to share<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">the b</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">ok from work I stole:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1"><i>B</i></span><span class="s2"><i>e</i></span><span class="s1"><i>yond Consequences,</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1"><i>L</i></span><span class="s2"><i>o</i></span><span class="s1"><i>gic, and Control.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">And wh</span><span class="s2">il</span><span class="s1">e providing insights</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">from w</span><span class="s2">hi</span><span class="s1">ch we all may gain,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">‘tis to h</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">lp adoptive parents know<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">the tr</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">uma-addled brain.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">While c</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">rtainly this book applies<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">to c</span><span class="s2">li</span><span class="s1">ents I am seeing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">it </span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">lso sheds new light upon<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">the c</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">re of my own being.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">For e</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">ch of us sought comforts</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">when w</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1"> felt left behind;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">nce means of survival<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">now our ch</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">racter defined.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">In m</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">mories of my father<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">pre</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">ccupied with boats</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">I s</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">e my own obsession<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">with all st</span><span class="s2">u</span><span class="s1">ff involving notes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s2">In</span><span class="s1"> this case the trauma<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">not in m</span><span class="s2">y</span><span class="s1"> past but in his;</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">yet s</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">mehow it infuses<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">Christmas-pr</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">sent as it is.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">I n</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">xt then sought suggestions</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">from my f</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">vorite avid reader,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">with wh</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">m I’m blessed to dwell</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">near madr</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">nas and a cedar.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<br />
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">So t</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">ken now with sweetgrass<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">she b</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">ught some, braided too—</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">a s</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">cred scent reminder<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">of time w</span><span class="s2">it</span><span class="s1">h Lakota-Sioux<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">on a N</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">rth Dakota landscape,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">a </span><span class="s2">li</span><span class="s1">berated nation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">For th</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">m it was existence;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">for </span><span class="s2">u</span><span class="s1">s it was vacation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">The sp</span><span class="s2">ir</span><span class="s1">its that they honored,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">the l</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">dges where they sweated,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">so d</span><span class="s2">is</span><span class="s1">tant from big-oil execs</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">with sp</span><span class="s2">ir</span><span class="s1">its tourniqueted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s2">O</span><span class="s1">ne might ask in earnest,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">after </span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">ll the broken treaties,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">whether th</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">se two kinds of human<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">truly </span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">re of the same species.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">The b</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">ok addresses arrogance<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">towards pl</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">net and its creatures—<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">a cl</span><span class="s2">u</span><span class="s1">eless needing to control<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">those wh</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1"> should be our teachers—</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">while </span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">lso offering lessons<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">from the s</span><span class="s2">ci</span><span class="s1">entific view</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">(m</span><span class="s2">u</span><span class="s1">ch as did Dad’s novel;</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">let’s give cr</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">dit where it’s due).</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">Might our dr</span><span class="s2">in</span><span class="s1">king binge of resources<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">be sc</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">led back to intinction?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">Could we tr</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">at this land indigenously<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">to thw</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">rt our own extinction?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">What </span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">nce was labeled progress<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">we n</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">w must redefine;</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">h</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">rness all the insights learned<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">for m</span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s1">ssive redesign.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">But m</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">re than the retooling<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">of the p</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">wer-hungry grid,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">we n</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ed to build connections<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">our ec</span><span class="s2">o</span><span class="s1">nomy forbids:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">conn</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ction to each other,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">conn</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ction to the past,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">and conn</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">ction to a future<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="s1">richly sc</span><span class="s2">e</span><span class="s1">nted with sweetgrass.</span></span></div>
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</style>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-2575585837795312592018-08-05T21:50:00.000-07:002018-08-05T21:50:31.717-07:00Apology from My GenerationThis morning I was stricken by <br />the need to write a piece <br />to celebrate the birthdays <br />of my mother and my niece.<br />Though two weeks separate their dates <br />one poem must need suffice <br />which, like its predecessors,<br />mixes craft with bad advice. <br />One may expect nonagenarians<br />to focus on the past;<br />while 20-somethings scan the globe <br />and wonder what will last. <br />Which be the case for either of you <br />is a matter of conjecture; <br /><i>my</i> generation was that of<br />the Conscientious Objector. <br />But consciousness gets battered by<br />the <i>blitzkrieg</i> of deceit <br />that marks our education, <br />be it school or in the street, <br />leaving us to choose between <br />the numbing of our senses <br />and standing up for principles,<br />rejecting all pretenses.<br />Many were the facts we learned,<br />our vantage that of miners; <br />some wayward groundhogs rose to view <br />the hand of the designers,<br />which now ungloved leaves fingerprints <br />undeterred by detection,<br />confident how to subvert <br />results of an election. <br />What power do we have against <br />the money and the lies <br />but our inner Alexandria<br />who cannot compromise? <br />Well may you ask how I dare<br />confuse this celebration <br />of your chronological ages<br />with the status of our nation.<br />Each of us has finite time <br />to better our surroundings. <br />We’ll run aground this charter boat<br />if we don’t watch the soundings. <br />For our time is a gift not just to<br />us but all encountered. <br />So why could<i> I</i> not have done more <br />to stop things heading downward?<br />To leave an earth behind me<br />where every child has chances <br />to live, to breathe, to eat enough,<br />to sing and make up dances.<br />And though I’ve loved my countrymen<br />my love was insufficient<br />to mollify their fears,<br />kick down the walls resistant<br />to the light, to the darkness, <br />to the healing of their sorrow <br />that bars their playing forward,<br />and makes their days so hollow.<br />But I’ll refuse to give up trying<br />if you will do the same;<br />and one day, through this unspoken pact,<br />we’ll redesign the game.jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-54427593524069129212018-03-04T21:32:00.003-08:002018-03-14T21:09:38.083-07:00Monica's birthday verse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQkI_tnycJJrZF8tD29Z11kk6U0LQz1tYDQtIdPPZZcfrOW6RbpgNLcMmy4rEeGeoMQJgpF9b9vNU7u4vp3BkS94UpMNQlaKYfgoABLle5qbH9Dy_bFXDYr0x-HfQkLxUDzjcCm0Rx2o/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQkI_tnycJJrZF8tD29Z11kk6U0LQz1tYDQtIdPPZZcfrOW6RbpgNLcMmy4rEeGeoMQJgpF9b9vNU7u4vp3BkS94UpMNQlaKYfgoABLle5qbH9Dy_bFXDYr0x-HfQkLxUDzjcCm0Rx2o/s320/IMG_0036.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br />
This birthday is the first one<br />
when we haven’t been together,<br />
though we both look out on Puget Sound<br />
and have much the same weather. <br />
<br />
How this will one day resolve<br />
I wish someone could tell us.<br />
When comparing to some others’ lives <br />
I let myself feel jealous, <br />
<br />
Even though I have advised<br />
so many in recovery —<br />
that thirsting after worldly things <br />
will leave us going hungry —<br />
<br />
I recall at the same time <br />
how blindly we move forward:<br />
trying to blame the waiter<br />
for not bringing what was ordered.<br />
<br />
But is it not ourselves who<br />
in the end must shoulder blame<br />
for moments lacking gratitude,<br />
for joys we failed to claim?<br />
<br />
Were we ever making <br />
the best use of our gifts?<br />
And how does one keep pace when it’s <br />
the paradigm that shifts? <br />
<br />
Yet, through it all, our partnership <br />
continues to endure;<br />
and with it redefining<br />
what it might mean to mature: <br />
<br />
no one point of arrival,<br />
no ideal spot on earth,<br />
but “a friend my soul can’t live without.”<br />
There’s nothing has more worth.<br />
<br />jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-83922401301167761982018-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:002018-01-20T07:56:18.541-08:00New Year Reflection/News<div class="p1">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Monica and I are just returning from a week in MA, north and south shores. We manage to maintain our bicoastal identities with these periodic renewals of old ties to family, friends and localities. The cold snap found us minimizing time outdoors—the weather app confirming my postulate that Alaska would have offered a warmer week.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Frequently I pondered what my life would have been like had I (or we) not moved out to WA in 2009. Our marriage has now reached the point where more of it has been spent in the pacific than in the eastern time zone. How has such inculturation affected my core being, I wonder? Seeing our old music buddies performing at New Years Rockport Eve (a retitling of First Night that absolves from payment to the Boston originators) felt like the Brigadoon story—where months or years in my world coincide with the passage of a single day in theirs. Would I have remained focused on music, frugally piecing together a living? Or could I have reinvented myself without relocating? My sense is that there simply would have been too many factors to overcome—the same friends, the same ‘Y’, the same house in the same village, the same circuitous drive to get over the bridge—to nudge me beyond provincial complacence. In spite of the nurturing rootedness in greeting on the street those whose memories of me or my family go back decades, it can also become the gravity that a satellite must push past to enter into orbit. I cannot, at the same time, dig up my roots and replant them in the NW.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Since having finished an 8-minute guitar solo titled “Refugee Nocturne,” my thoughts have been on refugees. At first I imagined the piece a soundtrack to a refugee journey; but its rambling form seemed incoherent until I reimagined it describing drifting in and out of sleep—when dreaming offers an escape from the nightmare of reality. With this, the sections suddenly coalesced. And what does the refugee dream of but home? This brought back memories of Prospero’s last speech in Shakespeare’s last play <i>The Tempest, </i>which I orated at the conclusion of our <i>Gallimaufry of Gambols</i> production at Cranbrook-Kingswood schools 46 years ago: “We are such stuff as dreams are made on. . .” Here I perceived another connection to my theme in that Prospero was himself a refugee, exiled with his daughter in a <i>coup</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scheduled to perform at Antique Sandwich Co on February 18, I began conceiving a program, culminating in this new work, to include my guitar duet partner, Ken. I have tied the remaining works loosely in around a theme of longing. Reading interviews in which those living in refugee camps express a longing for a home <i>anywhere</i> reminds me to be grateful to have been welcomed not only to a new region but to a new vocation as well. As I don’t have experience performing Middle Eastern music, I reflected as to what music might tap into a time when my own ancestors faced displacement. Most of them being Irish, I am tossing in some Irish songs that Monica says I don’t sound half-bad singing. [poster attached]</span></div>
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<span class="s1">My day job is currently working as one of 2600 that staff Sea Mar Community Health Centers, with locations throughout western WA. I technically graduated my Masters in Counseling program a week ago, though I won’t receive my diploma for a couple of weeks. When I do, I can be licensed by WA Dept. of Health as a Mental Health Counselor, making me dual-licensed along with Chemical Dependency. Hopefully my new versatility will be appreciated—two different boxes to think outside of, which I am already pulled to do with my music/education/RC background. This Masters was twice as hard to complete as my MM in Music Composition, though at least ten times more practical. For the past three months I have worked nomadically out of four offices, learning Sea Mar’s duplicitous documentation for both MH and CD. Upon returning tomorrow it has been agreed that I will work four days at 11th St Integrated Program (f.k.a. Healthcare for the Homeless) and one day at Tacoma Behavioral Health (where I will carry a small caseload of “sheltered” clients). Each new experience has been a learning in the clinical sense as well as offering new opportunities to make reparations for my unearned privilege. Everybody, I believe, can benefit from “working a 12th step.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Monica and I have continued to provide music for St Ann Convent Sunday Mass (order of St Francis). Early in the Mass one confesses to having “sinned though my most grievous fault, in what I have done and what I have failed to do.” Once I connect the latter phrase with the generations of white U.S. middle-class Christian male heterosexual privilege that I have benefitted from with minimal protest, this penitential rite takes on added meaning for me. My Christmas verse, relating this sentiment, is below.</span></div>
jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-50257954536430432562017-12-28T05:14:00.000-08:002017-12-30T18:27:57.499-08:00A Candle's Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again has come the time when everyone is gifting.<br />
And we careen up through grey clouds, ‘tween wings’ miraculous lifting.<br />
Our goal is to renew our vows to family <i>ad finitum;</i><br />
Though compelled we feel not to appear without some packaged item.<br />
So once again to simplify, while trying to keep it real,<br />
I chose a single gift, I hope, with wide enough appeal,<br />
Which inspires an oration metaphorically rich,<br />
With an ostinato rhythm that has little need for pitch.<br />
<br />
Our genetic predisposition to crowd our living spaces<br />
With shoes we’ll one day wear again should we find matching laces<br />
Or hardware once essential to some modern apparatus,<br />
Which since reaching obsolescence has ceased to offer status,<br />
Means that the most thoughtful gifts would constitute the kind<br />
“Like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind.”<br />
But once I started searching, many options sought my vote.<br />
Some were soy, some paraffin, some came with a remote.<br />
I determined to seek lavender for the calming it provides<br />
(Distressed as we all are by he who in White House resides).<br />
<br />
Soon I mused about our lives each burning through a wick;<br />
How some remain aglow so long while others go out quick.<br />
How we strive to illuminate or become illuminated;<br />
Be lamps unto a world already overpopulated.<br />
The next taper to be seated in one crystal chandelier,<br />
Among the many thousands on this fragile spinning sphere,<br />
Will require that the waxen stub that was my incarnation<br />
Be scraped out and disposed of without undo hesitation.<br />
<br />
Or perhaps the one who wields the blade might pause with introspection<br />
And contemplate the random shards with broadening perception;<br />
Remembering new candles may from melted wax be formed,<br />
While those disregarding past mistakes, who plunge ahead unwarned,<br />
One day find themselves alone with all their precious acquisitions,<br />
Realizing one by one how they have squandered past convictions,<br />
The needy seen along the way, they thought themselves above,<br />
As they grew up being told to be selective whom they love,<br />
Cry out to a star-filled dome behind electric fences:<br />
Just how could I have missed so much while sparing no expenses?<br />
<br />
Then am I just another sheltered soul who now confesses<br />
To snuffing out the unseen flame with gusts of my excesses?<br />
And will it now be possible to render reparations<br />
For harming done behind the scrim for sixteen generations?<br />
Only now do I look in the eye of those who’ve harshly labored,<br />
Their basic wants often denied while those of mine were favored,<br />
Their children’s programs squashed, their prime years spent incarcerated;<br />
So long as we’re in separate worlds we’re both unliberated.<br />
<br />
So I ask of you, the wax holder, surveying such blood-letting,<br />
Is to respect what has taken all my life to stop forgetting,<br />
To cast the light enabling injured beings to be healed<br />
And raise our children’s children on a level playing field.<br />
<br />
—Jeffry, Christmas 2017jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0Gloucester, MA, USA42.6159285 -70.66198880000001742.429015500000006 -70.984712300000012 42.8028415 -70.339265300000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-67781312563220560862017-08-06T19:51:00.000-07:002017-12-29T05:20:22.527-08:00Dandelion (for my mother's 92nd)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Fd5eqqHGYJsMWRjjaQYtssClhzXj25Lzjng7WhXoaJR0i91E4eVma1t2YPhuzvgAbGt-KfZ5fNHwNhu1fhWvnjJ07DWd6OohATbR_QX7vaCVhpHVRi1BibuUnGEH-qZ-pY0fh0xSDs/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="576" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Fd5eqqHGYJsMWRjjaQYtssClhzXj25Lzjng7WhXoaJR0i91E4eVma1t2YPhuzvgAbGt-KfZ5fNHwNhu1fhWvnjJ07DWd6OohATbR_QX7vaCVhpHVRi1BibuUnGEH-qZ-pY0fh0xSDs/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">Once again I strive to meet </span><br />
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A familial expectation.</div>
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Though in this smokey Northwest air</div>
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I shan’t risk inhalation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Why I should be here not there</div>
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Confounds the mind and soul,</div>
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Shattering past illusions of</div>
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A life in my control.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Hamilton reunion did</div>
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Require our extracting;</div>
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Our journey spanned the daylight hours</div>
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For two spent interacting.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For I felt the need to honor<br />Those flying from out East,</div>
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Along with those who hosted,</div>
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With whom visits had decreased.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Such efforts beg the question:</div>
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How keep we justifying</div>
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Activities depleting</div>
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As somehow fortifying.</div>
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<br /></div>
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What does it mean to stand before</div>
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An aging grey relation</div>
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Who we have known since the days</div>
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That followed their gestation?</div>
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<br /></div>
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When TV sets were black-and-white,</div>
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When hi-fis had one speaker,</div>
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We said, “No, thank you” not “I’m good,”</div>
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And the “Jordan” was a “sneaker.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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It means that I came <i>from</i> somewhere,</div>
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A place I can rely on,</div>
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With roots that grow as deep</div>
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As the most stubborn dandelion.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And from this stem we flower;</div>
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May the wind convey our seed</div>
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To those who never did deserve</div>
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To live in such great need.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And the gift I have to offer,</div>
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Seeing value in the other,</div>
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Was one of many I received</div>
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By grace of my dear mother.</div>
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</style>jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932080140835061875.post-9275611356516230892017-07-26T22:28:00.000-07:002017-12-29T05:19:29.072-08:00My intern supervisor's last day<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I honor a mentor</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">And colleague in the field,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Who, pulling back the curtain,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Caused much to be revealed.</span></span><br />
<br />
Though she perhaps Millennial</div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">And I a Baby Boomer,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I found myself congruent</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">With her gutsy brand of humor.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I gained much from her insight</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Into the childhood mind.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">She honored my experience;</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Thus we became aligned.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">She demonstrated interest</span></span><br />
In how my life was going,</div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Connecting us on the level </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Of two seekers who are growing.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">But the winds of change were blowing,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">To each our lives enrich.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">My calling pulled me elsewhere;</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">She’s now a Kraljevich.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">The fruit of their sweet union</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Emoting from the womb,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Bringing her to question</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">What she once did assume.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">May you take this dance of life,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">As would a ballerina.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed I’ve been to have this time</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">With Compañera Christina!</span></span></div>
jeffrysteelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679246859080415753noreply@blogger.com0