tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29588865279373909192024-03-25T02:32:33.168+03:00My Ordinary MomentsA journey of self discovery.Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-75361855955792669552024-02-09T10:30:00.000+03:002024-02-09T10:30:28.743+03:00Fabulous February and all that life brings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnfkVXdk5m6kkV4K2qTEWRm4b654gfdFnKYbnCXdabHTAYbr-_5z5S5pVP9yLKgW6rD0_E0HctKyPMwid9t3dz5vdg0d1qoavHD23KkHZgKPANwClfGlSL54n8TbYw8a6m88CoG9cro9JtDr-n5hc92C5Lw6m-zodvXchJyrtwPpAnzYWlom1VupePPHy/s2016/IMG_6171%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnfkVXdk5m6kkV4K2qTEWRm4b654gfdFnKYbnCXdabHTAYbr-_5z5S5pVP9yLKgW6rD0_E0HctKyPMwid9t3dz5vdg0d1qoavHD23KkHZgKPANwClfGlSL54n8TbYw8a6m88CoG9cro9JtDr-n5hc92C5Lw6m-zodvXchJyrtwPpAnzYWlom1VupePPHy/w480-h640/IMG_6171%20(1).jpg" title="Kangadi" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangadi-- a portable heater</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been a while. I hope you've been warm, well and healthy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been a busy few months for me. S</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ome travelling, lots of reading, a fair bit of writing, immersion in Kabir and gardening have kept me from blogging. Lately, blogging has become the hometown I forget to visit when I'm busy with life and yet whenever I do, I feel replenished. I like the old familiarity of this space. It's a place to connect without the pressures of other SM outlets like Insta and X. I'm not against the latter. In fact, I like the visibility they provide for my work but there's an old world charm about blogging and this blog that feels like a home-coming whenever I get back after a long hiatus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2024 has started off on a good note for my writing. In fact, the first day of February (my favourite month) brought some fabulous news. A CNF piece I'd written was released as part of the "Happy Place" issue of </span><a href="https://epistemiclit.com/current-issue/" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Epistemic Literary </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can read and listen to me read it aloud here: <a href="https://epistemiclit.com/current-issue/accoutrements-of-hiraeth/" target="_blank">Accoutrements of Hiraeth</a>.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What are the images, sounds, memories, hopes that glitter in your heart and mind when you hear the phrase 'Happy Place'? I'd love to read your thoughts, if you'd like to share them as comments.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In view of the war that's occupied our screens and psyches, it's not easy to feel light and hopeful. And yet, as February rolls in carrying petunias and geraniums in her spring-like bosom, I can't help but bask in the sunlit grass, tickling my bare feet or let the kohoo-kohoo of koel and go-go-gutter-gooo of grey doves and chitter-chatter of house sparrows fill me with joy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wish you a peaceful and joyous Friday and a beautiful month ahead.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And if you're in the mood for a feel good and well made film this weekend, then I'd recommend Coco Farm. Here's a trailer. I LOVED this film. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GlZr2iCiQiY" width="320" youtube-src-id="GlZr2iCiQiY"></iframe></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Till we meet again. Stay safe and smile:)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3zCIzAMKSEFRoc56YcGVsvFbI-uhiRJmy6IaD7TL5CECvJe7HNtL9yyphVtCWe9aFnh4ws0M96LiTZb7NDVgAJbrHDZB2qzeF_ikDY5HjYAWVFVEKPZYaLQsnej3WBVgzym_EauMATAPKFKQoQbQwgb96q4n55OGzYwZxcL-F6W6s8qydLfGu0tuECa_/s6000/DSC01231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3zCIzAMKSEFRoc56YcGVsvFbI-uhiRJmy6IaD7TL5CECvJe7HNtL9yyphVtCWe9aFnh4ws0M96LiTZb7NDVgAJbrHDZB2qzeF_ikDY5HjYAWVFVEKPZYaLQsnej3WBVgzym_EauMATAPKFKQoQbQwgb96q4n55OGzYwZxcL-F6W6s8qydLfGu0tuECa_/w640-h426/DSC01231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-1122220731428179272023-09-27T11:42:00.001+03:002023-09-27T11:42:48.941+03:00'Don't Climb on the Bullock Cart' is here!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm thrilled to announce that my second book is here. Yay!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUP4nDX42nhmoLZOh6z9ZFS-U9NIUwaG-blZCLv0KKoCKodFI6yLORi0j3sHmA0Qpalx8z8RM_wUaICBcPnBWBEEewMyrbzJjUtMNlssPUgeJEXU70z4fI7ndLANwl8Q-wBuaKqAsex8chqc7DRgIsNwOs1JR1UZb4mOP_xr7vXcpL9jDtH-7F0Ob9fON/s680/cover%20page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="680" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUP4nDX42nhmoLZOh6z9ZFS-U9NIUwaG-blZCLv0KKoCKodFI6yLORi0j3sHmA0Qpalx8z8RM_wUaICBcPnBWBEEewMyrbzJjUtMNlssPUgeJEXU70z4fI7ndLANwl8Q-wBuaKqAsex8chqc7DRgIsNwOs1JR1UZb4mOP_xr7vXcpL9jDtH-7F0Ob9fON/w640-h442/cover%20page.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And it looks and feels just like I'd imagined it would.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After two years of collaborative work and six months of decisions about font, style, size of the book and so much more, the book is finally here: <a href="https://www.parakeetbooks.com/our-new-book/the-bullock-cart/" target="_blank">Don't Climb on the Bullock Cart</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tanmay's illustrations create the perfect feel for an old, old memory; relived and retold through the book after forty-seven years. And Judy's (Parakeet Books) love for our collaboration is evident in the choices she made for the quality of paper and print. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'd love to hear you reviews of the book. Please share this link further if you enjoy it or if you know of someone who will.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">******</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On Friday, the 8th of September, with the help of my husband and a few friends, I launched Don't Climb On The Bullock Cart in Doha. It was a gathering of all those who have supported my writing journey with words of encouragement and love. It was a gathering of friends who've connected with me via my words--</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">blog posts, poetry, stories and now two books.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The venue was a bar. I wore my <i>laal paad, </i>a Bengali handwoven cotton sari I'd bought last year, borrowed a beautiful bangle from a friend to celebrate. I even recited a poem. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To quote Maya Angelou: </span><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I intend to do my very best to thrive.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Unfortunately, I was so utterly immersed in the celebratory mood that I forgot to take my phone out of my bag to take pictures!!! HA! HA! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm sharing a few that friends took and were kind enough to share with me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ovRtxuizW-Sla-1eVKZ_nDSxzfFgbLxAgAOLGyFewc8f7OVOL8HatgRRhO3XEfjZbAS_arg1egpkRqH7S1KGsaCWdClpsO-xsxHdkZuEB9d1cTx9uag_3eraIl5X6Ri0PRi2zMZfCQuOQeQQDyMw6YF3VlrPsGvSMTGYcneGUVB6bd3l2qa2OaFiBVTp/s1600/sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ovRtxuizW-Sla-1eVKZ_nDSxzfFgbLxAgAOLGyFewc8f7OVOL8HatgRRhO3XEfjZbAS_arg1egpkRqH7S1KGsaCWdClpsO-xsxHdkZuEB9d1cTx9uag_3eraIl5X6Ri0PRi2zMZfCQuOQeQQDyMw6YF3VlrPsGvSMTGYcneGUVB6bd3l2qa2OaFiBVTp/w480-h640/sign.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBUiyLuB9RHsyN5d_3Uu0QNB8epkmdX_1WZdO85CEq-i852_x5pzFRQdg-umyPOBxmPsK1HMAyrI6usaPQB-i1P1QJrAGPedxw878lLJKHtxafZ2_2K4BfUbZHqoadEcCai_XPMLrZ9Rf-uNaur2Y9GpXgwiOZ6nH4SU97r1A__JcFyBLLngXcyH9xXcp/s789/sari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBUiyLuB9RHsyN5d_3Uu0QNB8epkmdX_1WZdO85CEq-i852_x5pzFRQdg-umyPOBxmPsK1HMAyrI6usaPQB-i1P1QJrAGPedxw878lLJKHtxafZ2_2K4BfUbZHqoadEcCai_XPMLrZ9Rf-uNaur2Y9GpXgwiOZ6nH4SU97r1A__JcFyBLLngXcyH9xXcp/w245-h320/sari.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz_uy7YkbQs5o3fjvj-rESIQbAnLXISPkHoiIOaHOM-B1RlXpcKgi7pjtlOsTY8PussfTu2qi6uJI6PISmTQVlxNX11CirsKfmfRXrd5I3GiLlTfazZG1MeSwuLA4K9L4DPckJgYm25_DsB4wyeivPL9LAaQLpX-uRbuX7mXUjJdnYREtin08v05B8FYj/s1024/friends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz_uy7YkbQs5o3fjvj-rESIQbAnLXISPkHoiIOaHOM-B1RlXpcKgi7pjtlOsTY8PussfTu2qi6uJI6PISmTQVlxNX11CirsKfmfRXrd5I3GiLlTfazZG1MeSwuLA4K9L4DPckJgYm25_DsB4wyeivPL9LAaQLpX-uRbuX7mXUjJdnYREtin08v05B8FYj/w400-h300/friends.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you dear readers for being my oxygen. You know you're the reason I dare to fly and thrive as I do.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It would be marvellous of you if, once you've read the book, you could leave your reviews and ratings: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/22580871.Arti_Jain" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Arti Jain on goodreads</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wishing you all wonders and magic, good health and happiness and above all, I wish you love; pure and unapologetic for who you are and for what you do and for how you do it. You do you and keep the light shining bright.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Till we meet again.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arti xx</span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-34268138143876636292023-05-11T13:12:00.004+03:002023-05-12T08:15:12.592+03:00When I met Neeraj Chopra <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On 6th of May 2023, I had the good fortune of talking to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neeraj_Chopra" target="_blank">Neeraj Chopra</a>, reigning Olympic Champion in javelin throw, at a lunch hosted by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fabdoha/?hl=en" target="_blank">Fauzia</a> (Fab Entertainment) to honour him and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldhose_Paul" target="_blank">Eldhose Paul</a>, the first Indian to win a gold medal in men's triple jump at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They were visiting Doha to participate in the Doha Diamond League, an annual one day track and field meet event. Both the athletes are proud products of <a href="https://www.inspireinstituteofsport.com/aboutus" target="_blank">Inspire Institute of Sport</a> (IIS). The other celebrity guests present were Mustafa Ghouse, Manisha Malhotra from <a href="https://www.jsw.in/sports/jsw-sports-leadership" target="_blank">JSW Sports</a> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parth_Jindal" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Parth Jindal</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, founder and director of IIS.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A hushed silence always precedes an important entry. It was no different when Neeraj and Eldhose walked in. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Neeraj was beaming and he had every right to. The previous night, he had won first place at the Diamond League season-opener with an impressive 88.67 m.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o4zmqfD6F2k" width="320" youtube-src-id="o4zmqfD6F2k"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">More than the medals and the shine of celebrity, it is the person I'm drawn to. Not that I get to shake hands with celebrities on a regular basis, but whenever I've had a chance to meet with one, it's the way they say what they say that makes more of an impression on me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Neeraj Chopra, at twenty-five, displayed the wisdom and poise of a much older person. He came across as an old soul to me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG7ccQ9p7c0pXnXuhPGV-ENHyszLjGm1SgaIbcZINfZVcSZJryBECoDBRvYzD_JAHmEMiuRMU7wTfyFimofK3Mu3iAF10TLqMe4fqjCUoP96zfuIjoY2JBiI7SlUxyUPqrAURlPsFD8b4sJqrXPtRdGSCk9BXST7u27L2c_8icj9IWVIX2bjVWjrhyA/s640/IMG_1378.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG7ccQ9p7c0pXnXuhPGV-ENHyszLjGm1SgaIbcZINfZVcSZJryBECoDBRvYzD_JAHmEMiuRMU7wTfyFimofK3Mu3iAF10TLqMe4fqjCUoP96zfuIjoY2JBiI7SlUxyUPqrAURlPsFD8b4sJqrXPtRdGSCk9BXST7u27L2c_8icj9IWVIX2bjVWjrhyA/w480-h640/IMG_1378.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">"I come from a humble background. From a village in Haryana. I never thought I'd be here today.." When asked by Fauzia to share his story, Neeraj chose to start by stating the obvious with such humility and ease that I felt I was listening to a person older and wiser in years than a 25 years old athlete who's star is on the rise.</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Q&A session followed the speeches. Valid and pointed questions like how the Institute plans to reach India's grassroot levels, or how does one change the national narrative of schools and educational outfits along with the parent' obsession about academic achievements at the cost of everything else, were answered by the panel with clarity and passion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We are all products of an education system where sports and the arts are considered a waste of time by parents and schools alike, especially in middle and high school. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The only exception is cricket. I'm not a fan and frankly, I don't understand the obsession. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When an entire nation and that too a populous one focuses on one sport alone, it doesn't bode well for other sports. India, despite its large population, has won a paltry sum of medals in the Olympics.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">All that is set to change. At least, that's how I felt listening to Parth Jindal. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last Saturday, in a banquet hall glowing with amber glass chandeliers, he dared to share his dream of 'Jana Gana Mana' (India's National anthem) being played on a loop at the Olympics of the future. His confidence and his passion shone brighter than the lights. He spoke about the begging bowl he'd held out to all the big corporate houses in India when he first thought of the idea of IIS -- more than five years ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The proof of the pudding came when athletes from IIS started collecting gold for the first time in the sporting history of India. That's when India and more importantly those with a will and capacity to help and turn his dream into reality started to take notice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jindal spoke about how there is an urgent need to plan and build at least twenty more IISs, if India is to tap into its true sporting potential. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the Q & A, it was time for photos. I had saved my question for later. I had one for Neeraj Chopra.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg92iCPAbRX8Ivi-IlmGokRdBU8cQlK0g6AD7QYXK5I4kX4ukL3Ucels-HkA3cN7swzhXZhKcq-iPZoHgc1ugaCoBua4hmVEUHUED5mmcdwccRuZ1oUooxCANAodihMfw4Ni7JtZA2dAxkEch2G0ZvQNPdceb2vbzJBjdwGTLkfAKtxwJDGNK5v6hnbw/s640/IMG_1384.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="387" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg92iCPAbRX8Ivi-IlmGokRdBU8cQlK0g6AD7QYXK5I4kX4ukL3Ucels-HkA3cN7swzhXZhKcq-iPZoHgc1ugaCoBua4hmVEUHUED5mmcdwccRuZ1oUooxCANAodihMfw4Ni7JtZA2dAxkEch2G0ZvQNPdceb2vbzJBjdwGTLkfAKtxwJDGNK5v6hnbw/w387-h640/IMG_1384.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"How do you tackle self-doubt-- that is if you ever have any?" I asked him once we'd said hello and I'd congratulated him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Of course. This is an individual sport. I have to beat my own best. So, there are times when I have to push through despite the doubts." smiled Neeraj. "I give my best to every shot. I don't save it for the last." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wow! I thought. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Writing, too, is a solo sport. To give ones best every time one sits down to write would be a great way to be. It's not always possible, though.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"It's not that I don't have down days. I do. That's when I talk to my coach. I have to be happy to be doing what I'm doing to give my best." Neeraj added. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"And you know Ma'am," he continued "<i>life mein balance hona bahut zaroori hai</i>." (It's very important to have balance in life." This sport is part of my life right now. It's not my entire life. Life is so much more."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some of you reading this post may think I may have been tempted to embellish or tweak Neeraj's words. All I'll say to you is--I don't blame you. I was surprised too. He spoke in a mixture of Hindi and English. But he spoke from the heart. His eyes sparkled with sincerity.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If this is the future of Indian representation on international arenas and forums, then I have no doubt Jindal will see his dream play out in his life time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My take-away from the afternoon was this -- Love for what we do should guide us through life's challenges and joys. Humility and the understanding that 'life is so much more' is a lesson worth remembering and reminding. Nothing lasts forever but to put ones best foot forward at every step is a great way to do justice to the talent one is born with.</span></div></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-71131376326435249302023-05-07T17:25:00.002+03:002023-05-07T17:25:41.957+03:00'Don't climb on the Bullock Cart' is looking for your love and support<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipN6akaC7EzXy2udGVEwJtYwAEeI1B0QP1c9Jjl6OoZ4Q6CO3Gu-Dp6-XM983fZViAKLfT0K2C-iuu_xYy3u69c_7Gj6IViGjnv2vyfT4gaDpkzxOfHoPu9cP8EdIJ-UKQchqe1PHj0gIYPw8zibm7NbzPH5uG_IM-3VDRcYFfBL_MCfcbR4fsQoD6w/s1200/project-we-love_kickstarter-badge-social-twitter-facebook-9002f1e.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipN6akaC7EzXy2udGVEwJtYwAEeI1B0QP1c9Jjl6OoZ4Q6CO3Gu-Dp6-XM983fZViAKLfT0K2C-iuu_xYy3u69c_7Gj6IViGjnv2vyfT4gaDpkzxOfHoPu9cP8EdIJ-UKQchqe1PHj0gIYPw8zibm7NbzPH5uG_IM-3VDRcYFfBL_MCfcbR4fsQoD6w/w640-h360/project-we-love_kickstarter-badge-social-twitter-facebook-9002f1e.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With only 10 days left for our project to reach its target, I reckon it's the perfect time to write about how my second book (yet to be born) came to be and what it means to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The book is called 'Don't climb on the Bullock Cart' and it's being published by <a href="https://www.parakeetbooks.com/about/" target="_blank">Parakeet Books</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When asked about reasons for writing a book, two questions need answering: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Why you and why now?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Soon after I graduated high school, I left my hometown, Dehradun, to pursue a university degree in New Delhi. I didn't know it then but I would never make my way back to the place of my birth, except as a visitor. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My grandparents (Papaji and Beji) were a big and happy part of my childhood. They raised the dreamer in me for in their eyes, I could do no wrong. They never said 'no' or 'don't do it' when we (my siblings and I) carried out our adventures in Papaji's gorgeous garden; climbing and jumping off trees and the big water tank. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They were, however, always ready with home-made remedies and softly spoken 'next time...do it like this..' advice to heal our cuts and bruises.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've moved cities, countries and continents in the last thirty years but </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've always carried my birthplace, my home, Beji and Papaji's memories with me, within me wherever I've travelled to or settled down in the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Naturally, I wanted my children, raised outside of India, to experience my grandparents' love. But time and distance made it impossible. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I lost Papaji and Beji, my children were very young.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every time I visited my home town, I'd notice it changing. Concrete, multi-storeys started replacing dirt patches and zig-zag lanes where we used to play hide and seek, <i>pithu</i> and <i>kanche. </i>However, it was the fading of people's memories of how our neighbourhood used to be that bothered me. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That's when I started writing and blogging about my childhood, about Beji and her cooking, about Papaji and his love of the land and his grandchildren, about our mulberry tree, about the recipes they conjured up as home-made medicines.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then one day in the Autumn of 2020, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tanmayillustrated/" target="_blank">Tanmay</a> read one of my blog posts. He enjoyed it so much that he offered to do a story board based on it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the middle of the second Covid wave, while stuck indoors, Tanmay (from Bangalore) and I (based in Doha) would meet over zoom once a week to work on the story. One scene, one line, little details like how Beji wore her dupatta, how short and messy my hair was when I was five--all of it was moulded into lino-cut illustrations by Tanmay. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Two years later, our collaboration had turned into a full-fledged illustrated book ready to be published. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then last year, I saw an Insta post by a friend and poet whose work I admire--<a href="https://devjanibodepudi.com/" target="_blank">Devjani Bodepudi</a>. Her post mentioned that her next book (for children) would be published by Parakeet Books. So, I messaged Devjani and told her about our 'almost ready' book. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We knew we'd found the perfect home for 'Don't climb on the Bullock Cart' when we received an emphatic yes from Judy at Parakeet Books. She loved the book, she said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The dots connected, stars aligned and here we are -- sharing this link to </span><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/parakeet/bold-brave-and-beautiful-parakeet-books-double-bill?ref=ksr_email_creator_staff_pick" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a>. It'll take you <span style="font-family: georgia;">to our project (picked as a #projectwelove by them) where you can pre-order a copy, or help out with a contribution. If, however, you're unable to buy or contribute right away, then please share the link with anyone you know who may be interested. Every little helps.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you for supporting my writing journey with your visits and kind comments. It all started here :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Have a lovely Sunday and wishing you all a fabulous start to the new week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBxNl8hrEkg-BOa012mUPTD4ayf7efuq0rMbgOUKiCSjjjf1DReT6acxn_Wj9BOgJ4ZN6d9us9gEGvV-FBqvK5VGWiktpOs-M5Dc9c331FzCA214EzcBh7mXN10Lec-N1w7Z84nFW4WyVXbG5EUn73wZEv_n-3WX35CCbdP0TpwNIzaj0z8Txjy9BEw/s680/cover%20page.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="680" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBxNl8hrEkg-BOa012mUPTD4ayf7efuq0rMbgOUKiCSjjjf1DReT6acxn_Wj9BOgJ4ZN6d9us9gEGvV-FBqvK5VGWiktpOs-M5Dc9c331FzCA214EzcBh7mXN10Lec-N1w7Z84nFW4WyVXbG5EUn73wZEv_n-3WX35CCbdP0TpwNIzaj0z8Txjy9BEw/w640-h442/cover%20page.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-44731360539193261172023-05-01T12:54:00.005+03:002023-05-02T08:45:52.768+03:00Doha Fashion Fridays -- lifting the cloak of invisibility with fashion<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is 'International Workers Day' today. It is the first of May.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">What better way to acknowledge the many migrant workers who live in Doha than to share the story of one of the most appealing photographic exhibitions I have seen in recent years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's called <a href="https://tasweer.org.qa/en/calendar/doha-fashion-fridays/" target="_blank">Doha Fashion Fridays</a> and it's on at the <a href="https://qm.org.qa/en/about-us/m7/" target="_blank">M7</a> till the 20th of May 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's not often that one is able to capture an entire experience in one word.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But on 18th March, 2023, I came across one such word--an old and known one-- in a new light which did just that. This was at the Doha Fashion Fridays inaugural talk at the M7.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0sMG4XVcSvrJRAXu28Q6emmRN3A-7juQXsCddYTD6IjWsMSab-j-TazNHL7uyqAmU2bUnBlNDDCjrSk5YvUH849Ob3oHxxqY0zmkEzzZNH7gbuhS1WZMW2cfUDaJikAv5n_544S-UqJX18jNGf4cNatEepgI0vtU1lR_rMQSDcTjSZaqeA4Tgs94sg/s640/Doha%20Fashion%20Friday%202.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0sMG4XVcSvrJRAXu28Q6emmRN3A-7juQXsCddYTD6IjWsMSab-j-TazNHL7uyqAmU2bUnBlNDDCjrSk5YvUH849Ob3oHxxqY0zmkEzzZNH7gbuhS1WZMW2cfUDaJikAv5n_544S-UqJX18jNGf4cNatEepgI0vtU1lR_rMQSDcTjSZaqeA4Tgs94sg/w594-h640/Doha%20Fashion%20Friday%202.jpg" width="594" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r0tAuiE47G4l4wHZ_ZHAC823q-A-0g30rU3ZSC9ZriHOG88PnEFR3IM4Vj_w_P9O7BWfKtXXWEMk1-aI3Dokj2yB7Umw6qjCxORc1Pdjx-mIGKFcqdSq21ct0ExmhVvP9mwIIDn2TchraxuAuvgC_uK9z3k1MLiSDcmzwaSbqMKnzi_p8eq1DsLtCg/s640/Doha%20Fashion%20Fridays%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r0tAuiE47G4l4wHZ_ZHAC823q-A-0g30rU3ZSC9ZriHOG88PnEFR3IM4Vj_w_P9O7BWfKtXXWEMk1-aI3Dokj2yB7Umw6qjCxORc1Pdjx-mIGKFcqdSq21ct0ExmhVvP9mwIIDn2TchraxuAuvgC_uK9z3k1MLiSDcmzwaSbqMKnzi_p8eq1DsLtCg/w480-h640/Doha%20Fashion%20Fridays%203.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The word is curator. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although I am familiar with the word but I have always associated 'curator' with the act of sourcing, collecting and assembling of objects or art of interest in a certain way for a certain purpose or audience. I hadn't given the word much thought or bothered to look up its etymology. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Known words are like our landscape. That which we see everyday, we stop noticing. We stop paying attention. Not unlike the migrant workers in Doha.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although they are visible on construction sites but for most of us who live in this city, they're 'invisible' underneath their blue overalls and yellow hard hats. They merge with the landscape. We, as a collective, are mostly indifferent to their existence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, when <a href="https://www.aparnaphoto.com/about">Aparna Jayakumar</a> prodded <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pimcharlottecotton/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charlotte Cotton</a> to share more about the word 'curator', I was struck by its aptness. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The word curator owes its origin to the Latin verb curare which means to take care of.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">How apt, I thought. How perfect. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Care: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a four letter word that is all too often overlooked or overshadowed by the other overused four-letter words -- love and like. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Care. To take care of. To care enough about. To bother to care in the first place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I believe 'care' is the basis of humanity. Yes, love is the canvas on which all human drama plays out. But care is the currency of love. How much or how little we care about ourselves, our families, the society, this planet and all the creatures of this planet decides our and their state of health.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://tasweer.org.qa/en/calendar/doha-fashion-fridays/" target="_blank">Doha Fashion Fridays</a> is the result of an idea that was planted by political cartoonist, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/khalidalbaih/?hl=en" target="_blank">Khalid Albaih</a> seven years ago. Serendipitously, Aparna happened to be his neighbour. So when one day Khalid mentioned his idea to her, the seeds started sprouting into a 'unique collaborative project.' Soon, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/i.am.shaima/?hl=en" target="_blank">Shaima Altamimi</a> came on board. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the panel discussion the previous day, when asked about her motivation to join the project, Aparna mentioned that when she first moved to Qatar from India, she was struck by the absence of life on the streets. In India, LIFE along with its messiness and chaos is on full display out in the open. The poor, the rich, the involved and the disinterested share the same space. The populace is part of the same canvas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Doha, it's different.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But on Fridays everything changes, especially on the Corniche.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's the migrant workers' day off. On Fridays, if you find yourself on the Corniche, you will be rewarded with a sea of colour and life. Hundreds of workers pour into public spaces dressed to the nines. This is where they spend their day--meeting friends, taking photos, spending their free day their way. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On Fridays, on Doha Corniche, the cloak of invisibility is lifted. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the rest of the week, it's easy to not notice the construction worker in his blue overalls, the domestic help in her neatly ironed uniform, the drivers, the loaders and so many invaluable contributors to the rise and shine of this beautiful country and city. They become an invisible backdrop to the humdrum of progress and success. And this is true of many countries and places.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In India, for example, when I was at university, my flat (<i>barsaati</i>) was next door to a <i>basti</i> -- a shanty town. I was hit by the sounds, smells and poverty of the <i>basti</i> the first time I saw it. I had grown up in the sheltered shade of Dehradun. So, this was shocking. But three years later, by the time I graduated, the <i>basti</i> had become the backdrop to my <i>barsaati</i>. I had stopped caring because I saw it everyday. I was so focused on myself that I'd stopped noticing the 'others'.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">A couple of years ago, I was shocked to see the sea of tents in Seattle and Portland in the USA. The homelessness of a super powerful nation was on full display and yet the daily commuters around me didn't seem to notice or want to pay attention. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Indifference is the rose tinted lens we use to see our world when we are comfortable.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Doha Fashion Fridays reminds us that curiosity about the other is a good thing. Curiosity leads to care. And care is a great connector.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Khalid Albaih's curiosity about the fashionable migrant workers gatherings on Fridays was the foundation on which Aparna and Shaima built. They cared enough to lift that cloak of invisibility. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">A cloak we </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">so easily and carelessly drape over those we don't care enough about. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I urge you to go and 'meet' the vibrant migrant workers of Qatar via their portraits and stories at the exhibition. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But if you're not able to, then this photo essay in the Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/25/doha-fashion-fridays-migrant-workers-show-off-their-style-a-photo-essay" target="_blank">www.theguardian.com</a> will give you some idea about the ethos and aspirations of this ongoing project.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JFhE33Kkyf4" width="320" youtube-src-id="JFhE33Kkyf4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Visibility -- the one human need that comes in after food, shelter and clothing. All it takes is a glance, a smile, a nod to turn the invisible into the visible. </span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let's play our part and lift the cloaks around us. Acknowledge the presence of another, the other. It may reveal ourselves to us. It may not be pretty. Reality rarely is. But at least it will be real. To be real is worth everything.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you for reading this post. I welcome your comments and views. Wishing you well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arti</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-64344434336017031332023-04-30T15:34:00.001+03:002023-04-30T15:34:13.524+03:00Day Thirty #NaPoWri Mo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers and Poets,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-thirty-9/" target="_blank">Day Thirty</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo 2023. The last (optional) challenge of this year asks the poet to<span style="background-color: white;"> write a palinode – a poem in which you retract a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. For example, you might pick a poem you drafted earlier in the month and write a poem that contradicts or troubles it. This could be an interesting way to start working on a series of related poems. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alternatively, you could play around with the idea of a palinode by writing a poem in which the speaker says something like “I take it back” or otherwise abandons a prior position within the single poem.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've opted for the alternative option of abandoning a prior position within this poem. It's called</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><u>how to palinode</u></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">how to palinode</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">in haiku kept us awake</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">our restless silence</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">broken by bird song when dawned</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">a tanka -- upon spring moon</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">a tanka -- upon spring moon</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">gliding in between many</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">possibilities--</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">pause. still. lines emerge to show</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">how to palinode</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*****************</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm tempted to say more about the poem but I'll keep quiet for now. I look forward to your comments and views.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I missed out on a few days' worth of challenges this year. But with all the fabulous resources and prompts shared by <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/about/" target="_blank">Maureen Thorson</a> throughout April, I'm sure May will be blooming with new poems too. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you Maureen and all the poets who shared their beautiful poetry. A very special thanks to all of you who visited this space and read my poems. And an extra special thank you to the lovely ones who left comments:) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday.</div></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-24081387725720690322023-04-29T17:56:00.002+03:002023-05-01T08:40:54.109+03:00Day Twenty-nine #NaPoWriMo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The (optional) prompt on day <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-nine-9/" target="_blank"> Twenty-nine</a> of #NA/GloPoWriMo </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">asks the poet to start by reading Alberto Rios’s poem “</span><a href="https://poets.org/poem/perfect-any-occasion" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Perfect for Any Occasion</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">.” Then write a two-part poem that focuses on a food or type of meal. At some point in the poem, describe the food or meal as if it were a specific kind of person. Give the food/meal at least one line of spoken dialogue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">The poem I wrote for Day 29 has expired. But I leave you with this photo of Kashmiri Kahawa and an older poem that fits the prompt. It's called. 'He carried dirt under his fingernails.'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8ittAiVlmDkNp4oVCVetVrnUzDcX9hPvWpHuZG9LQP2E5zFDtNbQhQnsmpLolZOnOozG11zhW8oEch2lZqOBWhfsp9LB1MIZlcUkjb0vCYpA3mbghRVh7yj5AiW2bnIqyF0bSv8YXvcrhQDwQqGPmWswo9o__SYuJezCmMqR-V8F8JrIJTHG9U7QUg/s1800/BC33923F-A382-46F3-BD1F-A49EF0FA897B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8ittAiVlmDkNp4oVCVetVrnUzDcX9hPvWpHuZG9LQP2E5zFDtNbQhQnsmpLolZOnOozG11zhW8oEch2lZqOBWhfsp9LB1MIZlcUkjb0vCYpA3mbghRVh7yj5AiW2bnIqyF0bSv8YXvcrhQDwQqGPmWswo9o__SYuJezCmMqR-V8F8JrIJTHG9U7QUg/w512-h640/BC33923F-A382-46F3-BD1F-A49EF0FA897B.JPG" width="512" /></a>.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">*********************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wrote and performed this poem a few years ago. This is about food too. I hope you'll find the time to listen or watch 'He carried dirt under his fingernails'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HywQ4lY_ZC8" width="320" youtube-src-id="HywQ4lY_ZC8"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful weekend. As always, please share your comments and views here. I look forward to reading them:)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-76459473083178683902023-04-28T18:53:00.005+03:002023-05-01T08:36:33.417+03:00Day Twenty-eight #NaPoWriMo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers and Poets,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">An escapade of sorts conspired me way from poetry on day Twenty-two. But now that I'm back to my favourite spot in April, i.e. here, I'm eager to press on with the prompt of the day. I hope I can cover up the missed days in May. I'll keep you posted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-eight-9/" target="_blank">Day Twenty-eight</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo 2023 states: I challenge you<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> to write your own index poem. You could start with found language from an actual index, or you could invent an index, somewhat in the style of this poem by </span><a href="https://poems.com/poem/index/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kell Connor</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">. Happy writing!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uNvn1LSuNJGrzyZta6IXc-rd0UiVFtal8ssCNhAUHvze-GekHOwAjUi5tlNK4O9Nie9OxazFvJxP1PrTMeorxS5-HZDLhfi3-pKwFx7OgDGx3HgVTrtfXAudTl1ZjBK1Fzy_Hm07SocR6U2aEbRgQ3BLqBr0jeoQAj1xCxfC5y_748YPdLRaezJXrg/s2016/IMG_0970%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uNvn1LSuNJGrzyZta6IXc-rd0UiVFtal8ssCNhAUHvze-GekHOwAjUi5tlNK4O9Nie9OxazFvJxP1PrTMeorxS5-HZDLhfi3-pKwFx7OgDGx3HgVTrtfXAudTl1ZjBK1Fzy_Hm07SocR6U2aEbRgQ3BLqBr0jeoQAj1xCxfC5y_748YPdLRaezJXrg/w480-h640/IMG_0970%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Colosseum, yesterday.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This poem has expired. Leaving you with a shot of the Colosseum in Rome which I happened to visit last week.</span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-33533799443112188172023-04-20T11:40:00.002+03:002023-04-20T11:40:58.343+03:00Day Twenty #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-10/" target="_blank">Day Twenty</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo goes like this:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Have you ever heard someone wonder what future archaeologists, whether human or from alien civilization, will make of us? Today, I’d like to challenge you to answer that question in poetic form, exploring a particular object or place from the point of view of some far-off, future scientist? The object or site of study could be anything from a “World’s Best Grandpa” coffee mug to a Pizza Hut, from a Pokemon poster to a cellphone.</span></span></p><p>It's Eid break in Doha and I will be travelling out of the country this evening. There's laundry to be done and a bag that needs packing. So, <span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px;">I'm sharing a spoken word piece that I wrote and performed in early 2021 because it fits the bill (I think). </span></p><p><span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px;">It's called "Yesterday is not alive." It's a long (ish) piece but I hope you'll stay till the end.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MPKGNMqCNJE" width="320" youtube-src-id="MPKGNMqCNJE"></iframe></div><p></p><p></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">I'm sharing a spoken word piece that I wrote and performed in early 2021 because it fits the bill (I think). It's called "Yesterday is not alive." It's a long (ish) piece but I hope you'll stay till the end.</p><span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px;"></span><p></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Our conversations are going to bury themselves<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />deep in the earth’s womb,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />for they’ve failed to adapt to the thunderstorms<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />of Cricket scores<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Market trends<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Covid haul and the phone screen addiction<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />of the human race.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">“Yesterday is not alive.” they say. “Live in the moment, for today.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />What should I do? Tell me!</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">For my world is alive only in the past.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The world I shared with you when we spoke to each other face to face, eye to eye.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I live in those yesterdays--<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />when you gazed into me and read me like poetry.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In those yester nights when you sprinted to the phone booth of a rain-soaked Calcutta gully,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />just so you could hear me say ‘Hi’ from Chennai.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In those afternoons gone by when we held hands--<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />you used to caress my palm with your thumb, tracing our destinies across my creases, imprinting yourself on my heartline.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I live in those touches still.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">But you’ve moved on… to a phone screen.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Even the poets these days only write about separations and distances.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />No one pens down the belonging—the togetherness<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />of long-standing marriages.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">I sometimes wonder if these poets prefer to carry on alone for the sake of their poetry;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />sacrificing companionship on the altar of rhymes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />just so they can continue reciting melodies of virah and longing.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Imagine: if the one they pine for in their lines<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />starts living with them one day-- dwelling in their dawns, dusks and nights<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but, brings a phone along<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />for updates and company.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Their lover, them and a phone screen—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a tiresome threesome<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />that assigns a simple eye to eye<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />conversation to the realms of fantasy.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">But poets don’t like to write about long lasting love. Do they? Why?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Well, it has no drama, no pining, no moon to gaze at, no clouds to fill the sky.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They want love like death—instant, dramatic, unquestionable, slam dunk!</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Married love is so ordinary.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It flows like life--day after day after day in the gutters<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />of routines, packed lunches and bills to pay.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Till 2020, I didn’t mind this step-motherly treatment of the modern romantic poet towards reciprocated love.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />So what if our love didn’t make it their pages but sat silently in the margins waiting its turn to be noticed one day?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Our conversations kept me company. That was enough.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">But now even the margins have been marginalized.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This phone screen addiction has erased me.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">I want to talk to you.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Your attention is elsewhere.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">The words set forth from my insides to seek you but you’re not open to receive them.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Like orphaned kids, they trundle back seeking refuge<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />under a tin shed from the hailstones thundering<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />overhead<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />dhudhh…dhuddh...dhudhh…<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Of cricket scores, IPL roars, Covid tolls, political polls.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">My orphaned words-- they bound<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />back inside through my ears and run amok<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />like ruffians<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />running noses, tattered clothes, wreaking havoc<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />wherever they go.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They spray graffiti inside me. The ink bleeds and hurts me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My words clamour to be heard.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Caged inside, they can’t breathe.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">They find an escape at last. It’s through my fingertips.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They make them dance on the keyboard and write and write and write: poetry or prose or gibberish-- I don’t know. I don’t care. They are the warriors on a mission of resurrection. They will not stop. For they can see that in this era of one-sided posts and opinions, death awaits all impromptu conversations.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Our conversations will soon be assigned to the endangered species category. Once they’re gone, humans will try to recreate the nods, the pauses, the silences and genuine smiles using AI, perhaps on these very same phones.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">They’ll curate our conversations and display<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />them in virtual museums.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Our children and then theirs in the future will log on and see<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />how you and I could sit together for hours-- talk, tease,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />taunt, agree and disagree without<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />any phone or technology.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">The margins have blurred.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Love is Death.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Love is Life.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Love needs words to survive.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">I live in my past and bring my yesterday alive.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">Perhaps, when our conversations are truly buried and gone,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the poets will write a few lines about how these exchanges were guillotined<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />during Covid times.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We will read, share and subscribe to their poetry<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and proclaim it to be sublime,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />sitting next to each other bound by love--<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />long-lasting, married love.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Your hands will hold your phone. Your eyes will not know how to seek mine.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">We will come alive in our yesterdays in the future in someone else’s lines.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We will come alive in our yesterdays in the future in someone else’s lines.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">********************************</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">If you've stayed till the end, thank you:) I'll be here to read your comments. So, do share.</p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-62009134193580145962023-04-19T17:17:00.002+03:002023-04-20T08:47:36.271+03:00Day Nineteen #NaPoWriMo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I came to the prompt late in the day on account of something happy that I will share soon on the blog. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-nineteen-8/" target="_blank">Day Nineteen</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo states: <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">For this challenge, start by reading Marlanda Dekine’s poem “</span><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/155931/my-grandma-told-stories-or-cautionary-tales" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My Grandma Told Stories or Cautionary Tales</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">.” One common feature of childhood is the monsters. The ones under the bed or in the closet; the odd local monsters that other kids swear roam the creek at night, or that parents say wait to steal away naughty children that don’t go to bed on time. Now, cast your mind back to your own childhood and write a poem about something that scared you – or was used to scare you – and which still haunts you (if only a little bit) today.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">When I sit down to write to a prompt, I let go. I start typing and let the prompt guide the flow of my words. Sometimes, the poem changes course and surprises me, like today. It took me to ancient India and brought me back to myself.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9JAOoeQbqCk5TcIIphClXEnqblULJL6Kg0Hp7rTbaqoNTwvFR7FxRxes6K809xQF2tL3Dxqa4TXbHuk-QWOXnL8k03HjdTwllC4X1iWvhEIMxCH9Kh5DLs8FmsxlPxOQcEnkIJacs_0XApNs5tf_-NjQC3eTw7TQuJxoKLZPKYH7W-lrEkwpejURIw/s3648/Roopkund.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9JAOoeQbqCk5TcIIphClXEnqblULJL6Kg0Hp7rTbaqoNTwvFR7FxRxes6K809xQF2tL3Dxqa4TXbHuk-QWOXnL8k03HjdTwllC4X1iWvhEIMxCH9Kh5DLs8FmsxlPxOQcEnkIJacs_0XApNs5tf_-NjQC3eTw7TQuJxoKLZPKYH7W-lrEkwpejURIw/w640-h480/Roopkund.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><u>This must've happened in my mother's womb.</u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I don't recall a day, a time. Was it sunset or dawn when </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the most potent weapon </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">used by our fore-fathers, fore-mothers and their</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">great-great-ancestors </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">blended with amniotic fluids that kept me afloat</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">sank deep inside my yet-to-be-born-thoughts,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">my identity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>The Curse.</i> C.U.R.S.E.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"I curse you." many a sages uttered those three fateful words </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and demolished Kings, Kingdoms and Princes;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stories my grandparents unfolded on the kitchen floor</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and warned us, don't make anyone cross. <i>EVER!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The weight of five-thousand years of <i>our heritage</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">bore down upon me. Then one day, the stories jumped </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from the floor </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to flicker on screens.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That's when matters became worse. Scary.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nymphs turned to stone, handsome folk into horrendous</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">creatures with no voice and no form.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was young, what did I know! It was all make belief. Made up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lessons learnt in wombs, Beji said, are carried till the tomb.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The cursed on screen wailed piteously, "O! you who watches our plight,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">pay heed. Be obedient of the ways</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of authority. Look at us. Be warned.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Surrender to the rules of civilized society."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't speak up or you'll be cursed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't stand tall or you'll be crushed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't be different, or you'll be shushed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't question the status quo, especially the rich, the pious and the powerful.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Think within the box, live within the confines.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stay within the lines we have borrowed from our <i>great ancient</i> civilization</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to keep you tethered. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't complain or frown. This is for your good, your safety, of course.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Walk the beaten path. Fear the curse.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Decades passed. Every time I failed a test, or when a loved one got cancer,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I blamed the curse. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I must've hurt someone in my past to deserve this. That's the logic</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of the curse. It moves from myths to movies to young, impression forming foetuses.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then one day I grew up. I broke free. Stood up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Five feet, one and a half inches tall and shut the lid on</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pandora's Box.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Enough is enough.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Raktabeej met his end when Kali* showed up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">******************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can read about Kali and Raktabeej here: <a href="https://www.thejuggernaut.com/kali-hindu-goddess-story-durga-raktabija" target="_blank">the juggernaut</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Curses and boons may sound mythical to you but when they are woven in the fabric of ones childhood, in the warp and weft of stories told and retold with frequent embellishments of real-life examples, they become the basis of ones beliefs. It's not easy to look at ones ancient roots and snip away the decay. But, it must be done.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you for reading the poem. I'm all ears for any comments or views you'd like to share. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-28360704531394639932023-04-18T12:42:00.004+03:002023-04-19T14:51:33.280+03:00Day Eighteen #NaPoWriMo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The (optional) prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-eighteen-9/" target="_blank">Day Eighteen</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo challenges the poet to <span style="background-color: white;">to write an abecedarian poem – a poem in which the word choice follows the words/order of the alphabet.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yesterday a friend brought her twins over for a quick visit. Something about the visit jogged an old memory. So, I shared it with my friend. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">"You know I've never had a clear image of your mother. You've mentioned her in passing." She said. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">It made me reflect on how much of my mother I remember still. After thirty-two years.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm not sure if the poem I wrote today is an ode to my mother or an ode to my memories of her.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">The poem has now expired. But, the moon will shine for sometime on this page:)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ6TevHMV4EE8a0fKbCUxURz6zN4vWMJJb0fD8O6H6Lr9WaBqS8R2jKIs4ZEsjjhYGB2V2Ldirfipfw6PdEXJ9VjzI1YszbbzY0N8Kmtc9YblJXkC3wqICxbqrTV1e2GHJDVvKZeU_OYPx99eYot7UQt9wd89xD74rPGoYevE5zvEwBBi7VNjAzuefw/s6000/DSC06084.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ6TevHMV4EE8a0fKbCUxURz6zN4vWMJJb0fD8O6H6Lr9WaBqS8R2jKIs4ZEsjjhYGB2V2Ldirfipfw6PdEXJ9VjzI1YszbbzY0N8Kmtc9YblJXkC3wqICxbqrTV1e2GHJDVvKZeU_OYPx99eYot7UQt9wd89xD74rPGoYevE5zvEwBBi7VNjAzuefw/w640-h426/DSC06084.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Thank you for visiting. If there are thoughts or views that you'd like to share after reading this poem, I'll be here.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-31674818141203607142023-04-17T17:16:00.003+03:002023-04-18T12:44:58.520+03:00Day Seventeen #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Poets and Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-seventeen-9/" target="_blank">Day Seventeen</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo challenges the poet to <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> write a poem that contains the name of a specific variety of edible plant – preferably one that grows in your area. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Begin by reading Sayuri Ayers’ poem “</span><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159476/in-the-season-of-pink-ladies" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the Season of Pink Ladies</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Also, include at least one repeating phrase.</span></span></p><p>The poem has expired but here are some pictures of neem flowers that are in bloom at the moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0__3M9snJnW5RufjFeQDYcghokXkq3DDuutCJpK6XqPkOZP5flRQ5o9UT-zrnU4ya5ClDCoBWrBkmo75cW3X9cxnGquka4yL7rJLr8K3GtbUnytpAonCuHRbptcnNR0Cf_i67Ft8Ax2yU6KA5-mnsRNg62Zt2FZkabKY5G0jby1pXPuVZbhH5aTW7w/s2048/neem%20ke%20phool.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0__3M9snJnW5RufjFeQDYcghokXkq3DDuutCJpK6XqPkOZP5flRQ5o9UT-zrnU4ya5ClDCoBWrBkmo75cW3X9cxnGquka4yL7rJLr8K3GtbUnytpAonCuHRbptcnNR0Cf_i67Ft8Ax2yU6KA5-mnsRNg62Zt2FZkabKY5G0jby1pXPuVZbhH5aTW7w/w640-h426/neem%20ke%20phool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The neem, like some other native trees of the Indian subcontinent, sheds its leaves for a brief period in spring. In early summer, new leaves emerge, followed by the most intoxicating smelling bunches of white flowers. It's an absolute joy to be around/under a neem tree in April. One can't help but dance and sing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neem flowers, harvested, dried and stored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV1hJ8FRDUvdsoPc1Gs0MO4lO1zWpsFhb9B_8Qh5eRXbDNYI0gtPJwGsCv3LauRGcg91wCmJMVEs2vRWdfYneQfEPP7x787EsXXWVYndEC4Tlq_CahO387aDRckQk53_dz0ncAygQ2yggdcTgULRqs_1I5pSyiuCG_daeRwwhGqRunFkJS-NGzYFF3Q/s6000/Neem%20dry%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV1hJ8FRDUvdsoPc1Gs0MO4lO1zWpsFhb9B_8Qh5eRXbDNYI0gtPJwGsCv3LauRGcg91wCmJMVEs2vRWdfYneQfEPP7x787EsXXWVYndEC4Tlq_CahO387aDRckQk53_dz0ncAygQ2yggdcTgULRqs_1I5pSyiuCG_daeRwwhGqRunFkJS-NGzYFF3Q/w640-h426/Neem%20dry%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pcVoJ7hY0ck_CvedHiUPQAqBlVHGYkhCAEIlFHhFqda1xffffmT-ICOEuIGt-MehbG5naT2JcGSxEM9-b78qbrDGt_WSX9aO2fdodo8219CWyop5Ep_L7C9OMqALiY_XAcHIbB0gFonRl_UDKlQA3A1icoql4SHmo92q8TpT_0ibJeWQr_LBEt5bFQ/s5999/neem%20store.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3999" data-original-width="5999" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pcVoJ7hY0ck_CvedHiUPQAqBlVHGYkhCAEIlFHhFqda1xffffmT-ICOEuIGt-MehbG5naT2JcGSxEM9-b78qbrDGt_WSX9aO2fdodo8219CWyop5Ep_L7C9OMqALiY_XAcHIbB0gFonRl_UDKlQA3A1icoql4SHmo92q8TpT_0ibJeWQr_LBEt5bFQ/w640-h426/neem%20store.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can find out more about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica" target="_blank">neem tree</a> by clicking on the link. Its Latin name is Azadirachta indica. It's a wonderous tree. Its leaves, bark and flowers have medicinal properties. </span></div></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As always, I'd love to know what you think of this poem. Thank you for visiting.</span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-39472940782418140742023-04-14T11:51:00.000+03:002023-04-14T11:51:05.364+03:00Day Fourteen with Emily Dickinson #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The (optional) prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-fourteen-10/" target="_blank">Day Fourteen</a> of #Na/GlaWriPoMo challenges the poet to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">write a parody or satire based on a famous poem.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">But before I share what I've written today, I'd like to point you to </span></span><a href="https://lisatakesflight.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank">Lisa Takes Flight</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> 's brilliant and funny poems. She was the featured participant today.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My satire is inspired by Emily Dickinson's </span><a href="https://poets.org/poem/im-nobody-who-are-you-260" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">"I'm Nobody! Who are you?"</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm Everybody! Who are you?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Are you - Everybody - too?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then there's a world of us!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Shout it out. They might sign us up - you know!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How dreary - to be - Nobody!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How private - like a Platypus -</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To keep so mum - All lifelong</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To be SO anti-ambitious!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">*****************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The above is a commentary on how 'visibility' on SM equates success in the world today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Upon googling 'the most solitary animal', I came across this <a href="https://www.animalwised.com/the-10-most-solitary-animals-in-the-world-737.html" target="_blank">list</a>. Platypus comes in third after bears and the black rhino. Thought you may want to know:)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Friday poets and readers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As always, would love to know your thoughts and views about this poem.</span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-17537980801097392442023-04-13T10:39:00.000+03:002023-04-13T10:39:56.016+03:00Credit Card and Hemingway on Day Thirteen #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The (optional) prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-thirteen-9/" target="_blank">Day Thirteen</a> of #Na/GloWriPoMo asks the poet to first read the three short poems on the page by Bill Knott and then try to write</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> a short poem (or a few, if you’re inspired) that follows the beats of a classic joke. Emphasize the interplay between the form of the poem – such as the line breaks – and the punchline.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">I quit my job almost six years ago to pursue my love of writing and travelling (with the kind support of my husband). But, lately, I've been feeling the itch of not being able to support myself via my writing. The first poem is my current state of mind as I start the process of updating my CV and applying for jobs that pay.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Credit Card</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;">The Bank of Poetry Where dreams dare to dream </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> Every line of poetry you write </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> can be exchanged for food and </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> necessities. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> But, if it's a sari or a trek you're after, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> you'd have to find a poetry-loving sponsor. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #674ea7; color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;">Arti Jain <b> VIZA </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7; color: #f1c232; font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"><b>the fine print: </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"><b>This bank takes no guarantee your poetry will find a lover, ever. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"><b> Please be advised to find a job that pays your bills. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;"><b>Remember, you can dream to reach us anytime. We value your custom. </b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second short poem wrote itself. I played with words on the cover (bottom) of the book. It's lying next to my laptop.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOBHu3KvQpzzjlXVVmhVZ8QcVbp4NqvvWemBNmeJoQI7qESz76ASSb68kCD0gV_lFFQGt_-gYGeLP9wYV4alm79XZUR2BXOMqLIWeuRUN7LiibJShowLOvWMBMbseky5aE0XFkHOaeZODs_0Py8C42paZipR5Qvf60kvLH5WIwfCIKqSse_51UQJd7A/s1642/IMG_9869%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOBHu3KvQpzzjlXVVmhVZ8QcVbp4NqvvWemBNmeJoQI7qESz76ASSb68kCD0gV_lFFQGt_-gYGeLP9wYV4alm79XZUR2BXOMqLIWeuRUN7LiibJShowLOvWMBMbseky5aE0XFkHOaeZODs_0Py8C42paZipR5Qvf60kvLH5WIwfCIKqSse_51UQJd7A/w589-h640/IMG_9869%20(1).jpg" width="589" /></a></div>The book in the background is "River of Colour The India of Raghubir Singh"</div><div style="text-align: center;">another gem from Oxfam bookshop<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Men w i t h out</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> w o m e n</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Pain</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> f u l l y </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> g O O d </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> n O </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> O n e</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> can deny</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">t h e i r</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BRILLIANCE."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'd love to know what you think of my play-with-poetry-presentations. Were you able to find the beat of 'classic' jokes these two attempts are referencing? Tell me. I'm eager to know.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Thursday:)</span></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-91834758257891100582023-04-12T17:07:00.003+03:002023-04-14T09:50:12.772+03:00Day Twelve of #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span>The (optional) prompt of <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twelve-11/" target="_blank">Day Twelve</a> of #Na/GloWriPoMo challenges the poet...</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">to write a poem that addresses itself or some aspect of its self (</span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i.e.</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">, “Dear Poem,” or “what are my quatrains up to?”; “Couplet, come with me . . .”) This might seem a little “meta” at first, or even kind of cheesy. But it can be a great way of interrogating (or at least, asking polite questions) of your own writing process and the motivations you have for writing, and the motivations you ascribe to your readers.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">This poem has expired.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtGnNufEOvT955nZomp0ub_A6DUvxse6PlJEWhIheILy7YdoSD8OGZz5YEnN4ofOisfd5KILCNh-_fuJa-DaRn1O3AAVWpQQUJot3idTh5EDnunntXy7Ivs_GBpv7f9NpS_H_S3Rt9HyzVzmtuh9aHijuFOqmOK_I4xYRsY5PRVWGK155-xDoroo7Aw/s6000/DSC01964.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtGnNufEOvT955nZomp0ub_A6DUvxse6PlJEWhIheILy7YdoSD8OGZz5YEnN4ofOisfd5KILCNh-_fuJa-DaRn1O3AAVWpQQUJot3idTh5EDnunntXy7Ivs_GBpv7f9NpS_H_S3Rt9HyzVzmtuh9aHijuFOqmOK_I4xYRsY5PRVWGK155-xDoroo7Aw/w640-h426/DSC01964.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*********************</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-22244748950936429622023-04-11T17:54:00.001+03:002023-04-11T22:47:39.045+03:00A Big Fat Indian Wedding on Day Eleven of #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span><a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-eleven-11/" target="_blank">Day Eleven</a> of #Na/GloWriPoMo </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">challenges the poet</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">to play around with the idea of overheard language. First, take a look at Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “</span><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56601/one-boy-told-me" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One Boy Told Me</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">.” It’s delightfully quirky, and reads as a list, more or less, of things that she’s heard the boy of the title – her son, perhaps? – say. Now, write a poem that takes as its starting point something overheard that made you laugh, or something someone told you once that struck you as funny. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ9n6x6Vat_G3jhWOOOpw8kduFg1eiMvWBux49O_iLWVi5p794sRvSNDgs1qoP2IX5508h9ET8qOf9leXF6PWlNv7IgVtapGcn9a8vO009q4PY3f2jcOyPa1sfOZFesbjBxaIzGtBvHbmC3d4GITaMTR74r48KwaeiTLHMDYH1wVBciGwvnZwXGZkXQ/s734/IMG_9862.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="591" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ9n6x6Vat_G3jhWOOOpw8kduFg1eiMvWBux49O_iLWVi5p794sRvSNDgs1qoP2IX5508h9ET8qOf9leXF6PWlNv7IgVtapGcn9a8vO009q4PY3f2jcOyPa1sfOZFesbjBxaIzGtBvHbmC3d4GITaMTR74r48KwaeiTLHMDYH1wVBciGwvnZwXGZkXQ/s16000/IMG_9862.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">a mandapam</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><u><span style="font-family: georgia;">At a Big Fat Indian Wedding</span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><u><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Aunties in saris and uncles turban clad,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">a toothless granny, cousins, Mom and Dad</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">gathered together on the flowery <i>mandapam</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">to bless the newlyweds: a radiant bride and her shy groom.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">"Was it Love?" asked the aunt with a golden bust.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">"<i>Na</i>. Honestly <i>Maami</i>-- it was purely lust."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">said the groom </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15.4px;">without blinking an eye.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">I swear I heard a collective-connective sigh!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, there was silence for a split</div><div style="text-align: left;">second. OMG! Dammit...</div><div style="text-align: left;">What guts. What clarity! </div><div style="text-align: left;">Hurrah! I say, for such confident morality.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish we had more of this on display</div><div style="text-align: left;">at cocktails and dinners and soirees of midday.</div><div style="text-align: left;">What fun to know what you really think</div><div style="text-align: left;">about life, her dress, this venue, your drink.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And if ever such a day shall dawn,</div><div style="text-align: left;">sign me up for every party on the lawn.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But, if you will continue to hide behind niceties and blah,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm telling you now, I won't come. Mwah!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">****************************</div><div style="text-align: left;">My day started with a doctor's appointment (nothing serious) and a momentary loss of memory. I forgot where I'd parked my car in the parking garage next to the hospital. All's well that ends well. I found my car. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What a contrast the evening has been when the prompt unlocked a very old and funny memory. I enjoyed writing to the prompt. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-47255175465484765642023-04-10T16:50:00.002+03:002023-04-10T16:50:26.285+03:00A Sea Shanty on Day Ten #NaPoWriMo 2023<p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-ten-11/" target="_blank">Day Ten</a> of #Na/GloWriPoMo has been the hardest prompt thus far for it challenges the poet to write a sea shanty.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm of the mountains. I do love the sea but to write a sea shanty! Well, that's another story or poetry.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order to connect to my inner-being, I closed my eyes to conjure up seascapes or sea songs that would gently tide me over to 'lets-give-it-a-go' port.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I live in Qatar--a nation proud of its pearl-diving heritage. Suddenly, an idea flashed. Why not look at some of the pearl-diving-sea-songs for inspiration. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Going down rabbit holes of discovery is a favourite and fabulous thing. I found out that the lead singer of sea-songs is called the <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">According to this article on <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/fann-al-ba%E1%B8%A5ri-%E2%80%93-great-art-sea" target="_blank">QDL</a>, "The </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> was a paid professional singer, regarded foremost important on every boat and ship."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The following is an attempt ...</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX9v_x2Q8pb6Z-rmlZ_-xj6Nx_hvZEtMbhPbJLVAxSsoXOhobaU-sDj_IZTdzyQ_DT0jfFkVdQ-HVzd8oNVEFIdFcDHZiToybSiSt5rEOvCsayDTysvDq1YheF2KocYOUOMQo1XWD5IFaI8Nzxj9mbXlSrWz3LCI6g10Myoc24NvkrAu8nly_w5GVPg/s4032/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX9v_x2Q8pb6Z-rmlZ_-xj6Nx_hvZEtMbhPbJLVAxSsoXOhobaU-sDj_IZTdzyQ_DT0jfFkVdQ-HVzd8oNVEFIdFcDHZiToybSiSt5rEOvCsayDTysvDq1YheF2KocYOUOMQo1XWD5IFaI8Nzxj9mbXlSrWz3LCI6g10Myoc24NvkrAu8nly_w5GVPg/w640-h480/IMG_1021.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Doha, Qatar</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The song you sing of love</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">is the kohl, her eyes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">becomes the night</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">They ask me when </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">the tide will turn</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The hearth and the fire</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">have just one desire</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The song you sing of longing</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">is the jasmine, her hair</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">O! the mighty waves</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">She un-braids just for me</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The debts are not yet paid</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">She says, but come home anyway</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The song you sing of pearls</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is the promise, her embrace</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The salt I taste makes me thirsty</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">May Allah have mercy</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pray and sing His praises</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She's seeing the same moon as me.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nahhām....</em></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">*******</span></em></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Generally, lyrics are derived from literary and colloquial Arabic poetry." states the article. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">"While the lengthy rhythm cycles remind the listener of the temple music in Kerala (south India), the communal bourdon singing recreates an atmosphere similar to the music of Tibetan monks or </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sattya</em><span style="font-size: 15px;"> Hindu monks in Assam (north-east India)."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Like a true sea-voyage, I ended up finding pearls of wisdom from the songs of the sea. I hadn't set out to find any of this. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's a sample of Sea Music from Qatar: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ns2uN-aCdEE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ns2uN-aCdEE"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-23985170458729860532023-04-09T13:02:00.003+03:002023-04-11T17:57:43.518+03:00Day Nine #NaPoWriMo 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wishing you a fabulous Sunday and Happy Easter to all those who are celebrating.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The(optional) prompt on <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-nine-9/" target="_blank">Day Nine</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo encourages the poet to write a sonnet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But first, I'd like to share a poem I read a few minutes ago. It's the featured poem for Day Eight on NA/GloWriPoMo site and it's unmissable. You can read it here : <a href="https://leximagines.com/2023/04/08/prismojen/" target="_blank">To Create...</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's something about structure that makes me want to rebel. But this year (perhaps it's a sign of ageing or acceptance--I don't know) I'm giving structure in poetry a go.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The sonnet I wrote follows the general rule of 14 lines and it's about love. Plus, I tried to follow the following rhyming scheme: ABBA, ABBA, CDECDE.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've removed it from the post as it's a first draft of sorts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorbOrO9r50CmS3k3NCYCWWQLb8LhCMI-f9u_sFzsH65uTCcqKv2RSggpM66ZYoyVdE49f6f06sG4CUZS2RhnjPmsf19LJXRO_dSfJkq8VW8vCeIK4CQx50uaIRI6kyIlsuMtA-aECmGNpjrDgH5ZYAT2rZFVq1Oa3kd_L5XOTEoF50DUZp_mMSR2AaQ/s6000/DSC07949%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorbOrO9r50CmS3k3NCYCWWQLb8LhCMI-f9u_sFzsH65uTCcqKv2RSggpM66ZYoyVdE49f6f06sG4CUZS2RhnjPmsf19LJXRO_dSfJkq8VW8vCeIK4CQx50uaIRI6kyIlsuMtA-aECmGNpjrDgH5ZYAT2rZFVq1Oa3kd_L5XOTEoF50DUZp_mMSR2AaQ/w640-h426/DSC07949%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">picture taken in July 2021 in Oregon.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">**********</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'd recommend reading Adam O'Riordan's article, 'The Sonnet as a Silver Marrow Spoon' published by <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/70283/the-sonnet-as-a-silver-marrow-spoon" target="_blank">Poetry Foundation</a> if you'd like to write a sonnet yourself.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-10938063614063032732023-04-08T13:34:00.005+03:002023-04-09T10:06:34.186+03:00 Day Eight of #NaPoWriMo 23<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order to give my April attempts (first drafts, really) a fighting chance to mature into good enough poems to submit to literary journals in the future, I've decided to remove some of my poems (those that I feel have potential to grow) from my blog after a day. I have to thank <a href="https://clayandbranches.com/" target="_blank">Romana</a> for planting this idea in my head. Submission processes are rather exacting and at this point in my life, I'd like to find nurturing homes for my poems.</span></p><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The(optional) prompt for <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-eight-10/" target="_blank">Day Eight</a> of #Na/GloPoWriMo challenges the poet to use all of the</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> 'Twenty Little Poetry Projects" (originally developed by Jim Simmerman) in one poem. </span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">You may want to click on the link </span></span><a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-eight-10/" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Day Eight</a> <span style="font-family: georgia;">to find out what these twenty projects are. </span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order to get myself in the mood to write to such an extensive prompt, I visited some of the poets who'd written and posted their entries already. I must say I was impressed and motivated in equal measure. </span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've taken my poem down but have left these beautiful roses from a garden in Srinagar, Kashmir (clicked in August 2022) to wish you Happy Easter Sunday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fM74XYhBpCvsFkbmimc3MnO4VXoABrgYrRUt8F_7uXGFG2j1EFh8Qr2k35-0_tS--6Y_HBql_rvesBbTKZPNsmYONEV9uwWiRRD2EuttEfKvJYD-dJ-4HxahwvHnEgrMn-k8FOrBpe9S4ICJbiIcQSRmI14cGxCtCWrpUQ2vbvkDBkZlXdd939hKYQ/s6000/DSC00330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fM74XYhBpCvsFkbmimc3MnO4VXoABrgYrRUt8F_7uXGFG2j1EFh8Qr2k35-0_tS--6Y_HBql_rvesBbTKZPNsmYONEV9uwWiRRD2EuttEfKvJYD-dJ-4HxahwvHnEgrMn-k8FOrBpe9S4ICJbiIcQSRmI14cGxCtCWrpUQ2vbvkDBkZlXdd939hKYQ/w640-h426/DSC00330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-55039905880317370372023-04-07T12:19:00.001+03:002023-04-08T09:49:44.547+03:00Day 7 #NaPoWriMo23<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order to give my April attempts (first drafts, really) a fighting chance to mature into good enough poems to submit to literary journals in the future, I've decided to remove some of my poems (those that I feel have potential to grow) from my blog after a day. I have to thank <a href="https://clayandbranches.com/" target="_blank">Romana</a> for planting this idea in my head. Submission processes are rather exacting and at this point in my life, I'd like to find nurturing homes for my poems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And on to <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-seven-9/" target="_blank">Day Seven</a> of Na/GloPoWriMo. The (optional) prompt prods the poet to </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Start by reading James Tate’s poem “</span></span><a href="https://poets.org/poem/list-famous-hats" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #225e9b; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The List of Famous Hats</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15.4px;">.” Now, write a poem that plays with the idea of a list. Tate’s poem is a list that isn’t – he never gets beyond the first entry. You could try to write a such a non-list, but a couple of other ideas would be to create a list of ingredients, or a list of entries in an index. A self-portrait (or a portrait of someone close to you) in the form of a such a list could be very funny. Another way into this prompt might be a list of instructions."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm sharing two poems today. One that I wrote just now and one from last year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The new poem has been removed. But the one from last year awaits...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EnKQ-NVw0Ilp7TqYToR7sU9-1V7uhVdxA35RuIHc2ZFU6qlrnZ6w54HVI0WJnMwlH9xI50c6LsWTO4Itnql5XlHvKBaR11VBOMq4U2gWsurcutX_SPsZpUzlUW2HiKzGDfhdk1jTqb6pdUwKV1bCOP1S4AYknjLkXEwWWlMlnB3O7XKYbKsiR9p1Fg/s6000/Topi%2013.JPG" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EnKQ-NVw0Ilp7TqYToR7sU9-1V7uhVdxA35RuIHc2ZFU6qlrnZ6w54HVI0WJnMwlH9xI50c6LsWTO4Itnql5XlHvKBaR11VBOMq4U2gWsurcutX_SPsZpUzlUW2HiKzGDfhdk1jTqb6pdUwKV1bCOP1S4AYknjLkXEwWWlMlnB3O7XKYbKsiR9p1Fg/w640-h426/Topi%2013.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-family: georgia;">Topikapi Palace, Istanbul, April 2022</u></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This nonet from Na/GloWriPoMo 2022 is a list of instructions:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
to make love ( a nonet)</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Un-button</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="background: white;">the what
ifs, the why nots</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">mindfully. Take</span> <span style="background: white;">the layers off. Now</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">wriggle</span> <span style="background: white;">out
of all</span> <span style="background: white;">mistakes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">you ever</span> <span style="background: white;">made.
Let go.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Bathe in forgiveness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Hand on heartbeat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Close your eyes:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">dhak… dhak…</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">dhak.</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****************************</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you for visiting this page. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a lovely day.</span></span></span></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-78076524733473810162023-04-03T13:03:00.001+03:002023-04-03T13:03:42.046+03:00Breaking everything #NaPoWriMo23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62wTTc_pQKf7GHuC3i8V-cJmNf0areR4hKLBPOu5QX4F9WabUpt1Fnsx5Ql611rPj71PRDaGr2weggTnyNtHCKaJDdh11RCIbtM2JO9wXW1mus1mB8pyeVK_PjjhYqCeXxDOhTpyN_sybSoR7lT_U5Vj0fnwS2hn2q3QcFMJukLTRUA3hpTSNG1v_sQ/s4032/IMG_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62wTTc_pQKf7GHuC3i8V-cJmNf0areR4hKLBPOu5QX4F9WabUpt1Fnsx5Ql611rPj71PRDaGr2weggTnyNtHCKaJDdh11RCIbtM2JO9wXW1mus1mB8pyeVK_PjjhYqCeXxDOhTpyN_sybSoR7lT_U5Vj0fnwS2hn2q3QcFMJukLTRUA3hpTSNG1v_sQ/w480-h640/IMG_1014.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo taken in Spring' 22 in Istanbul.</div><p>Hello Readers,</p><p>April arrived in the middle of home renovations and work-related travel. I was quite sure of not reaching my favourite space (i.e. the blogging world) at all this month but when the Day 1 prompt of #NaPoWriMo23 prodded to me to go-on-give-it-a-go, I accepted his annual ritual gleefully. </p><p>But Day 2 stumped me. I didn't write a word. I could have but I chose to finish the day with a glass of red instead; watching home renovation programmes on a loop with my daughter. We loved it.</p><p>Here we are on Day 3. Birmingham sun is falling in big, warm squares on the wooden floor of my daughter's flat. I'll be making my way back home in a couple of hours. There's a train ride followed by a flight on the day's horizon. But for now there is e.e. cummings.</p><p>Two days ago, while browsing in the Oxfam book shop, I chanced upon a book of 'selected poems' by e.e. cummings. This poem (untitled, of course) fits in perfectly with the <a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/day-three-9/" target="_blank">Day 3</a> prompt which encourages the poet to "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Find a shortish poem that you like, and rewrite each line, replacing each word (or as many words as you can) with words that mean the opposite... </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">(It’s sort of like taking a radio apart and putting it back together, but for poetry)."</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Winter is like a sure foot</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">(which comes carelessly</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">out of Somewhere) scattering </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">a window, out of which people look (while</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">people stare</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">disarranging and unchanging placing</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">carelessly there a known</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">thing and a strange thing here) and</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">unchanging nothing carelessly</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">winter is unlike a perhaps</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Hand in a window</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">(carelessly to</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">and fro keeping Old and</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">New things, while</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">people stare with little care</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">holding on to a perhaps</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">fraction of flower there placing</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">a pillar of earth there) and</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">without healing anything.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>The original poem by e.e. cummings:</u></p><p style="text-align: left;">Spring is like a perhaps hand</p><p style="text-align: left;">(which comes carefully</p><p style="text-align: left;">out of Nowhere) arranging </p><p style="text-align: left;">a window, into which people look (while</p><p style="text-align: left;">people stare</p><p style="text-align: left;">arranging and changing placing</p><p style="text-align: left;">carefully there a strange</p><p style="text-align: left;">thing and a known thing here) and </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">changing everything carefully</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">spring is like a perhaps</p><p style="text-align: left;">Hand in a window</p><p style="text-align: left;">(carefully to</p><p style="text-align: left;">and fro moving New and </p><p style="text-align: left;">Old things, while</p><p style="text-align: left;">people stare carefully</p><p style="text-align: left;">moving a perhaps</p><p style="text-align: left;">fraction of flower here placing</p><p style="text-align: left;">an inch of air there) and</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">without breaking anything.</p><p style="text-align: left;">***********************************************************************************</p><p style="text-align: left;">Thank you for visiting my blog on Day 1 and for leaving your wonderful comments. I'll be visiting your spaces as soon as I'm back home -- I promise:)</p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-26802311963855405432023-04-01T11:52:00.002+03:002023-04-04T12:40:18.387+03:00A poem inspired by the cover of Kafka on the Shore -- Day 1 of #NaPoWriMo23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlLOpRtYe87EGpCvAC8Ld812FCPVFwdKR4t2sCukkAbIx_93zh377DVczf2RpwLPFzBOWoqBVayIpMfohoSPlAGa-Y9KfjVRN9KpmbRU81L4i8UZhBgVhnpQm67Aeo6a-l2xxpNYnEbyObzkciBoa5cKsFW6KVhIOQ8yo1E6kvQ_FVa-CGsKQMe70Sg/s640/IMG_9810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlLOpRtYe87EGpCvAC8Ld812FCPVFwdKR4t2sCukkAbIx_93zh377DVczf2RpwLPFzBOWoqBVayIpMfohoSPlAGa-Y9KfjVRN9KpmbRU81L4i8UZhBgVhnpQm67Aeo6a-l2xxpNYnEbyObzkciBoa5cKsFW6KVhIOQ8yo1E6kvQ_FVa-CGsKQMe70Sg/w480-h640/IMG_9810.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Dear Readers,</p><p>Hello. Hope you've been well. </p><p>It's Day 1 of #napowrimo23. It has dawned wet and grey where I am.</p><p><a href="https://www.napowrimo.net/poets-start-your-engines/" target="_blank">Poets, Start Your Engines</a> prods the prompt and challenges the poet to "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">write a poem based on a book cover."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Engine started. Challenge (almost) accepted. </span></span></p><p>I wrote this poem inspired by 'Kafka on the Shore' last year. Why not enter it to start the challenge and then take every day as it comes, I tell myself as I punch the laptop keys and hope that another 'new' poem will find its way to me while I go about my day. </p><p>Thank you for being here and for reading my poetry.</p><p>You know I'd love to read your comments.</p><p>Wishing you all a fabulously creative April.</p><p>Arti</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Kafka
on the Shore”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This cat, all-white, thumbnail size<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">stares at me from a semicircle of white: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A thick arch drawn to the right of the spine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A moon must’ve spilt in half or gone to hide<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Behind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But this cat, all-white, thumbnail size<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">sits quite still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">under a rectangle, built with walls <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">that are white:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">cradling in its solid arms, all-white<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Dark and Light <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">hints of Blue and a dollop of Navy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The cat’s tail, a twisted white noodle, fallen off mid-bite
from a fork<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">questions me with its shape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The all-white tail of the all-white cat <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">asks: “when will you look up?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Or perhaps it’s the cat, white and thumbnail size,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">that’s prodding me to put the phone down and pick up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">the book it’s etched on instead,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">and read that which is claimed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by the New Yorker to be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“An insistently<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>metaphysical
mind-bender”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If you take your gaze away from the cat, all-white and
thumbnail size<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">and let it hover<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">just above the thickly drawn white rectangle on the
cover,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">you’ll discover that while Haruki Murakami lies imprisoned<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">in the rectangle’s strong and solid arms,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Kafka on The Shore<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">roams free <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">on Dark and Light hints of Blue and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a dollop of Navy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7SHCGVXYPwaarakDGQB20GYgR-kJjlD-RKZsslwFmJgUMkYY5wEfIyFulcBETSTWHrk4ImRzdlYUO9JvR_Ge7Chx8hGMCX-HhyvOWOz69niM-X7uofTqqYiwLJBNDabl2gFBOyytNfafU4keH8hbFhGeDsE7w1N-c7pkVDADYRhajVpCwxLGmuaBiQ/s640/IMG_9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7SHCGVXYPwaarakDGQB20GYgR-kJjlD-RKZsslwFmJgUMkYY5wEfIyFulcBETSTWHrk4ImRzdlYUO9JvR_Ge7Chx8hGMCX-HhyvOWOz69niM-X7uofTqqYiwLJBNDabl2gFBOyytNfafU4keH8hbFhGeDsE7w1N-c7pkVDADYRhajVpCwxLGmuaBiQ/w480-h640/IMG_9811.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-73444080325696033072023-01-11T06:49:00.001+03:002023-01-11T06:49:16.808+03:00Four Poems in Poems India<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy New Year dear Readers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>Today, I come bearing a jar full of poetry recently published by Poems India. They call the collection: </span></span><a href="https://www.poemsindia.in/poems-by-arti-jain" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank"><span>Poems by Arti Jain</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. I'm thrilled, of course. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here they are for your reading pleasure and comments:</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSGZUUwuVVQCwZMj00rvDoKQ4eZ46x0PGU06Vmz2vKIBhCCviUiWSYZjt_noj9J2GSF0ZYhdDKjCYGstE1CiKwpupkpnfvfliSczQP8Z3J88mmIwUVyhbKcLLqc3Y5s5azQBen4nslbZPLp4DYGAX9G_Ew-kDlSaasvk6xRgf0rN_3NxqTf4xCQ8Lcg/s5957/Poems%20India.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3971" data-original-width="5957" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSGZUUwuVVQCwZMj00rvDoKQ4eZ46x0PGU06Vmz2vKIBhCCviUiWSYZjt_noj9J2GSF0ZYhdDKjCYGstE1CiKwpupkpnfvfliSczQP8Z3J88mmIwUVyhbKcLLqc3Y5s5azQBen4nslbZPLp4DYGAX9G_Ew-kDlSaasvk6xRgf0rN_3NxqTf4xCQ8Lcg/w640-h426/Poems%20India.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dkvl3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Racism at a Concert</span></span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block133" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ess7q" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I pick pebbles</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block134" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8ar80" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from riverbeds and distant shores</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block135" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-39bsi" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">mark them with names: places they were picked</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block136" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4eg11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and arrange them on my desk,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block137" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bphgl" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">windowsills. Indelible bookmarks of a day in the sun, family</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block138" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c57mo" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">fun. Holidays far from home.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block139" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fa58r" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kashmir, Chicago, Cyprus.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4qdj4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block141" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-efna2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Holidays. Homes. Hiraeth run parallel. They never intersect.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block142" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-410a7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We dismiss one to seek the other and yet,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block143" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d572u" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">it’s always home sweet home.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block144" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-rvvq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block145" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5rak5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nomads seeking oases, unable to dismiss that deep primal urge</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block146" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-231a4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to label, to tether stones,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block147" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bq4ed" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">humans, skins, accents</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block148" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cb4ou" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to “But where do you really come from?”</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block149" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-97e7n" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block150" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3u508" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When you pushed me to get ahead</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block151" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3925d" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and shouted “Robbie’ at the Robbie Williams concert,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block152" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9bolj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">you turned me into a dry riverbed</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block153" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fj718" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stone, alone—</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block154" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3q2ru" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">no arms to protest or mouth to shout: STOP! Back off!</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block155" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7ugrr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You pushed me off like I was nothing.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block156" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5a7lc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Just brown.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block157" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7rae8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block158" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-79kpq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ahimsa taught me to always step back.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block159" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4pa9s" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I instinctively did.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block160" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7f9vq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block161" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-djabd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Do you even know the lyrics!” you scorned</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block162" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5prr1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from your great height of privilege built on so many wrongs—</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block163" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a3c6g" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">your colonial conditioning distorted to suit your narrative</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block164" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-b2210" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to disguise racism in convoluted logic.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block165" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d2875" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block166" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9hhgl" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Does it matter?” I responded above the din.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block167" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4fus2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You didn’t respond. How could you?</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block168" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-anh96" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block169" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-f18oe" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was the call of an ancient river that plunged me into action.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block170" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d4dnh" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The mountains in me, my Himalayan pedigree</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block171" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fugud" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">avalanched me free.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block172" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bgp0f" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Curses to Gandhi’s other cheek.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block173" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dmljd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When stones on riverbeds move, they change</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block174" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-41tqo" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">courses, they move mountains to oceans, rocks to sand.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block175" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4k95r" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Shocked, you asked, “Why did you push me?”</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block176" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-76iku" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Because you pushed me first.”</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block177" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-eqlhf" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I uttered matter-of-factly.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block178" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8216e" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block179" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-apf8f" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It felt so good to reverse my flow and glow,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block180" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-578ec" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">grow back into my fullness,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block181" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7q55v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">my humanity, into my fierce Kali and Shakti</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block182" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-12nk4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">into my voice, my history, my identity.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block183" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-490f8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You couldn’t push any further so you hollered ‘Robbie’ from your spot.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block184" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-48h2a" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block185" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-aqae1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The next morning, I scrubbed all the pebbles clean,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block186" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3dd7t" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">even the ones marked with permanent ink.</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cp5a9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pink Himalayan Salt</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-74pvv" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9q1s6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Deodars tall. Tall and rock-hard.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-eru7c" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Soft, the softest mist on mountains melts</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cie37" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">you into me—</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9e0sb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">hidden half, in full view</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3icgu" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">those valleys and those peaks.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block10" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2lh71" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-f8vgp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I sprinkle pink Himalayan salt</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block12" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-667fh" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on sliced tomatoes, freshly washed rocket leaves.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block13" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3abgj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our memories.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dl2an" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block15" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6q3kp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Daisies must’ve filled the crevices</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block16" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1f903" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of all or at least a few promises</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block17" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6q44u" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of bright sunshine skies</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block18" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9996n" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">buried deep in the dirt</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block19" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-eljn2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of my birth-earth.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block20" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ed3ib" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Softly, like a whisper, the bees must’ve gathered</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block21" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9c0rj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">sweet nectar</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block22" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4cqna" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from flowers ready, taut.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block23" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5a2i5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block24" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5unq0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dinner’s ready. I call out.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block25" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bv16h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We sit to eat.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block26" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dg8j0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Sufi CD plays incessantly.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block27" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fs971" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If God is anywhere, He’s in Music.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block28" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-clh7j" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He must be.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block29" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6s61u" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block30" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a6eh6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Spittle flute. Hot air.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block31" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4cg16" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Passion escapes the clarinet.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block32" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cm04e" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Notes high, low, whisper soft.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block33" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7j6ad" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sighs. Delicious deep, pink—your lips</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block34" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3hdil" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">trace my contours—</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">goose bumps</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block35" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-f8b07" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">grains of salt, salty my body</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block36" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-lti7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">expectant, ready.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block37" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2mlep" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block38" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8v98v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What’s bread without salt?</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block39" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-502nb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What’s us without the love-making?</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block40" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6sfll" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block41" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6lap4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We’ve played the waiting game ever since</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block42" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5eogq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the surgery. It cured your cancer.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block43" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-19d5g" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Lust for life is a good thing.” The surgeon had said.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block44" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6pb22" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block45" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cotkp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If God is anywhere, He’s in Music.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block46" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9egcs" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He must be.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block47" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cta7l" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps a prayer then</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block48" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e071h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to bring us back—</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block49" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-454li" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to how we used to be.</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****</span></span></span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-95mn" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pretend he's not Real</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block52" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-91f6v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block53" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7oef" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Plant your gaze on anything but his face.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block54" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e5qco" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block55" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8f6g4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">His face—less than ten</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block56" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bagp1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in years lived holding orbs</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block57" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fkn9v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">cave-rimmed</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block58" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3voji" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">dark, deep.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block59" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4cm01" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block60" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4uip0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the traffic signal.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block61" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ktps" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Your car hums a cool song at 42 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block62" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-56roi" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block63" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e5gtp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pick up your phone and stare at the screen.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block64" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cgfhu" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block65" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-el6gh" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">His eyes, masterful handlers, will tug</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block66" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5kk5k" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">at your gut: Fasting to fit into a new dress.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block67" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fcdb2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">His eyes will read you. Quick. Hide. Disappear from his gaze— Kohl</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block68" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-69ej5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Shade—street hardened arrogance.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block69" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8ach8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block70" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7nutd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Put your hand up to wave him away but DO NOT establish eye contact.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block71" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2vrt1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block72" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3n9ls" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He'll linger at the curb and turn the fan tail</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block73" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5t40k" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on his bright baseball hat and swing</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block74" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4rlvg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">it so well, you'll want to peek.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block75" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9hkh7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Be Warned! DON'T!</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block76" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6u0v1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you do, the kohl will hold you hostage.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block77" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5ahdj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You'll want to help him.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block78" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4cuva" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Offer him change. Since you don't carry small notes, you'll decide a coffee</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block79" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4poca" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is money better spent.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block80" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-arv9d" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block81" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7tlpl" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pray the lights turn green soon.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block82" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1jj63" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block83" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fado5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Because</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block84" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dt77f" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block85" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-73jva" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">he'll open his shop of kohl and plead "Please Miss—I haven't eaten in three days." and you'll be able to hear him.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block86" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2sv9h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block87" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5qpgk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Smother any stirrings. Think of the dress. The dinner. Look at Google maps instead. Starbucks.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block88" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7njlq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anything that separates.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block89" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ecgrr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Them and Us.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block90" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5t26r" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Red snake awaits ahead. You have no patience for children who beg. You know it's a scam. You do enough to help others, you tell yourself.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block91" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-92oj8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block92" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a4s6o" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pretend he's not real and move on.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block93" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-66gn0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Green means go.</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgxrWHls3n934Yu4DstV8XraqUWglujshZWn1G5SJqRVdq5L2r0YiRGVhJsXAqRloZg5wqXrk_3xnBI3xY8JqjxmpAjogPkA4Z25zTs9kSToQvHjDQbLpFQmJh70P29uy4EP2X-RxmRoM7Je4K4kzpbD6q9BlD_hvG9pAohF_fIRVI41wYVpwipvn1w/s6000/DSC06265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgxrWHls3n934Yu4DstV8XraqUWglujshZWn1G5SJqRVdq5L2r0YiRGVhJsXAqRloZg5wqXrk_3xnBI3xY8JqjxmpAjogPkA4Z25zTs9kSToQvHjDQbLpFQmJh70P29uy4EP2X-RxmRoM7Je4K4kzpbD6q9BlD_hvG9pAohF_fIRVI41wYVpwipvn1w/w640-h426/DSC06265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c2bpu" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Devi Divine of Garden Pots</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block97" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bk9k3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block98" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4i26a" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Devi Divine of garden pots (and patch of green plot)</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block99" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c9seo" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stood verdant</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block100" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8o8l" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">resplendent</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block101" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-am5sm" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">at my <em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dehleez</em> and said</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block102" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-29ei9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Your garden, my child, is full to the brim.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block103" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d9flg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve done what I could</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block104" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1v8k7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with hibiscus and neem.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block105" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a7aok" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Not forgetting frangipani, of course.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block106" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1jvj7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She holds, like all my creatures, the fragrances,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block107" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-79vj3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the essence of the first</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block108" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a72sb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the first kiss on Earth.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block109" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9a5h2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve decked the bougainvillaea in Rani Pink.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block110" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ssbi" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And the buxom Madhu Malati, that shy blousy thing, has woken to the soft,</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block111" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3boq3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">heady, steady, summer's first wink.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block112" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-609l0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The oleander will intoxicate you just like I’d planned she would.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block113" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e934b" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And mulberries are ripe. Pay heed.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block114" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ca7ao" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eat them. That's their need.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block115" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8l0st" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Their purple will stain you, your tongue, your floors, your soul</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block116" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2vavg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with the first— the very first</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block117" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-43i4f" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">hint of a tint of this world.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block118" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9aajh" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve put on a show like I do every year.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block119" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1m7u9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You’re their gardener.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block120" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-14k9v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But I’m your keeper.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block121" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-bvus9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The grass, the dew, and all the earthworms who renew</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block122" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1mh01" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">my soil. Your toil.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block123" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fkpmm" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I leave in your <em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nigrani</em>.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block124" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-55tef" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Keep them. Shower enough <em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">paani</em>.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-771h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Work is worship</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block126" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dbkt5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My child—</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block127" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-35qkn" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Worship more.</span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block128" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-b628s" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Worry less.</span></span></span></p><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 roLFQS _1FoOD _3M0Fe Z63qyL roLFQS public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">****</span></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You know I'd love to hear from you. I also know I've become an intermittent blogger lately. I guess it's the nature of my being--I meander through poetry and posts but eventually find my way back to where I started my writing journey--here. </span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wish you a healthy and peaceful 2023. Keep warm. Till we meet again.</span></span></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-6538372760345068082022-11-23T10:53:00.001+03:002022-11-23T11:50:31.032+03:00The Kashmir I saw -- Part 1<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMeyasMgFVz8PC6PbAh6VXtVqfmz9_mM5utgnPA07UoVlPmXIurK7aUVBVRTmAIQkWwkHbefhyX8puLW1lsY2N1dKcJvs9E_uzbIQ218YSUf2Mvf3CoPIfAI2blKLfcy9QtHmcJoW2m2qr4D3yFZ2off2iRkM-1ok5PXRNg2ezQFEPYDoJGY41QUiBg/s6000/5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMeyasMgFVz8PC6PbAh6VXtVqfmz9_mM5utgnPA07UoVlPmXIurK7aUVBVRTmAIQkWwkHbefhyX8puLW1lsY2N1dKcJvs9E_uzbIQ218YSUf2Mvf3CoPIfAI2blKLfcy9QtHmcJoW2m2qr4D3yFZ2off2iRkM-1ok5PXRNg2ezQFEPYDoJGY41QUiBg/w640-h452/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>Her hazel eyes, large and curious, peered at us with such intent that they made me feel important--like I had something useful to share, like my life in the city was a curiosity worthy of a story.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Deep in Basmai Valley, in the middle of paradise, a group of us -- trekkers of ripe years and enough worldly possessions sat in a shepherd's hut. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Warm, worn blankets, still vibrant in colour, were offered to us by the owner. The hut belonged to an old couple. The husband was out with the sheep. The wife offered to make us kahwa. She wore her wrinkles well. Women and men of the mountains wear their weather beaten badges like mountains wear snow-- effortlessly and naturally beautiful. The way it is meant to be. She would've made an excellent subject for a portrait. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We sat. We talked. A neighbour, another shepherd, was present as our interpreter. How the people of these valleys--vast in expanse, sparse in human population, communicate without phone signals I do not know. But he was there. As was the hazel-eyed teenager. She too had wandered in from her hut nearby to meet with us. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have no photos of the hut or of the Kashmiri shepherds we met that day. Either my phone was out of charge or I was sucked into the cocoon of their life so completely that clicking seemed unnecessary. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Three months later, when I finally sat down to write about that day, plonked on an extra cushion at the end of our dining table which is forever a mess of books, notebooks and scribbled notes, I figured I'll have to rely on my memory to recreate the scene for you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Venky, Apu, Manju, Anju, Sachit and I sat on the mud-hardened, surprisingly warm floor in a jagged circle. We had taken our hiking boots off and left them in a dripping, muddy pile by the door along with our walking sticks and poles. It had rained incessantly for the past two days. We'd managed to continue with our hiking plans thanks only to short and timely dry windows. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle-7vTfABXoj9MDnV9giQtPkkTGA-iFRYhMLoTNz9SVPpqLbN_mEyke3oPWia4q0hEhSSF-4ppMmrjdzKyfQd8icJXjoxH-chZgHRELxCXeLEUMheXUv-e6Um1ytKaI4OhKbdnLDZpgUvHJ9PzFZRyt7Q6epR6DR2y97eX7z0K4UJi77R8D7T2r9brg/s6000/1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle-7vTfABXoj9MDnV9giQtPkkTGA-iFRYhMLoTNz9SVPpqLbN_mEyke3oPWia4q0hEhSSF-4ppMmrjdzKyfQd8icJXjoxH-chZgHRELxCXeLEUMheXUv-e6Um1ytKaI4OhKbdnLDZpgUvHJ9PzFZRyt7Q6epR6DR2y97eX7z0K4UJi77R8D7T2r9brg/w640-h426/1.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> "What did she say?" one of us asked the shepherd-interpreter. The hazel-eyed beauty had whispered something urgent and animated to him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"She wants to know what you do in the city. What is your city like." his face broke out into a fatherly smile--deep, mountainous wrinkles parting to let the warmth out--his eyes shone like the clear waters of the lakes we'd seen earlier.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We introduced ourselves. He translated for her. She'd watch whoever was talking with such intensity that I had a feeling she was imagining herself in those roles, in those cities. What we perceived as chaos and drudgery and hectic and mundane seemed magical and exciting and unreachable to her--that's what I thought as I watched her drinking in all the information that was being translated to her like a parched traveller stumbling upon an oasis unexpectedly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Periods of quiet interspersed with her questions, followed by our replies followed by his translation followed by her animated face, eyes and broad smiles. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"She didn't like school. She quit when she was young. So she travels with her father and uncle with the sheep in these valleys and mountains from spring to autumn. Her mother stays with the older and younger family members in their hometown. All her siblings go to school." the shepherd-interpreter informed us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-3Q3Nem0NLHmz4MrU6Nyujtc6pr6OZ4RuZVodkHW5Y0XwXDwFI-ns3G3hUt5ksCqAVyEqwDsbCHAY2JyUDpdrJIfI341VfjnENaMlbcO3gLNkwvVlc-zkCz9xwsLfj75Kg2jgjB6XlkI3yUppwN2rQeTPfbn6JzYwmwDZbucG6WMJ_nY0JzaYCW-Ag/s6000/7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-3Q3Nem0NLHmz4MrU6Nyujtc6pr6OZ4RuZVodkHW5Y0XwXDwFI-ns3G3hUt5ksCqAVyEqwDsbCHAY2JyUDpdrJIfI341VfjnENaMlbcO3gLNkwvVlc-zkCz9xwsLfj75Kg2jgjB6XlkI3yUppwN2rQeTPfbn6JzYwmwDZbucG6WMJ_nY0JzaYCW-Ag/w640-h426/7.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No school. No friends of her age. No phone signal. Only sheep, sheep dogs, horses and household chores for company. How does she manage to stay so alive in her curiosity? Her inquisitiveness lit up the hut. Her questioning eyes turned us into wise travellers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was getting darker. The clouds rumbled. It started raining again.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The kahwa was taking time. Let it be, someone suggested. We had to reach our camp at the bottom of the valley before dark. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"No. No. Please sit." The hostess, who had been busily scurrying around the hut for ingredients insisted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"She doesn't have all the ingredients-- she's shy to serve you kahwa without those." explained the interpreter.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Even hot water will do." we were all grateful for their company, their hospitality, their curiosity. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The kahwa came in an assortment of cups and bowls--sweet and delicious. The hostess, the interpreter and the hazel-eyed teenager watched us while we sipped and oohed and aahed about how delicious it was. How it was exactly the thing we needed then. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There were a couple of Japanese bowls too. How come? I wondered. Who would've picked those? Did a Japanese traveller bring them with her? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The mountains have this effect on me. They say stars shine the brightest in skies where fewer eyes gaze at them. How true that is too. We saw the mighty Milky Way twice in those ten days! I'm left in wonder of travellers, shepherds and explorers who would've walked the same rough terrain, the same stunning pastures, gazed at the same crystal lakes, watched the same wildflowers dance, sat in this same spot as me--before me, will do after I'm gone.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Curiosity connects us. If we were more curious and less cynical about each other, we'd be living in a peaceful paradise. But we choose to weed out curiosity and feed our cynicism in cities and civilizations and call it progress. Our systems thrive on this division of us and them. Imagine a world anthem with no mention of political borders. Can you? Ever wondered if the grass on this side of the border tastes different to the sheep and cattle that graze on it than the one growing across it!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"We are the Bhakkarwals." the shepherd-interpreter informed us. "Ours is a tough way of life. And we don't want our children to do this. We didn't get a chance to improve our lot. But they do. They all go to schools and colleges. After I'm done, my children will not do shepherding any more." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Improve our lot." I thought. And here we are--city-dwellers by choice, educated, worldly folk who trek to these mountains, stay in tents, re-connect with that part of ourselves which lies buried under the demands of our own chosen lives. Granted, there is absolutely no comparison between choice and necessity. We choose to explore these mountains (with all creature comforts) while the shepherds have to keep a watch day and night, in snow, rain and wind. A shepherd's life in these parts is tough. No doubt.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even off-the-counter common medicines are not easily available.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our interpreter's bad back, our hostesses toothache are their realities. Like most human encounters in remote mountainous parts, our meeting ended with them asking for commonly available pain killers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Their challenges are real. I get it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But I still can't shake off the feeling that I wish I could live that hazel-eyed teenager's life for a year, a decade. How would I see me then? This world?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I remember when I was in grade 6, I was convinced that I didn't belong to this planet. I'd imagine a spaceship landing in the middle of our school's hockey-field and a booming voice from the spinning disc demanding me back from my school. For I was a VIP (Very Important Princess) of another planet, the booming voice would explain to the entire school, especially to Bro. Carroll (our school principal) and that I had been sent to planet Earth by mistake. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What sounds like pure conceit now was simply the effect of watching the film 'Back to the Witch Mountain' on my over active imagination.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I guess I have been trying to escape my reality ever since then!</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What is about escape that is so appealing? We, the city-dwellers, escape to the mountains to find ourselves, to connect with that which we loose touch with when we live our day to day lives and yet the one thing that shone most brightly in the hazel-eyed teenager was the idea of escape. For the hour or so we sat in the wood, stone and mud hut of the Kashmiri shepherd, it was her eyes that kept me captivated. Glued. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Would she be happy to swap lives with me? Or would she wilt like an alpine flower trodden on by a careless trekker?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Would I survive such a harsh life? Could I? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Escape from our own realities is so delicious. Even the idea of such an escape makes ones eyes sparkle.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yet, it is this reality that we have to embrace to find that elusive peace of mind. Guru Nanak Dev ji called it '<i>hukum rajai chalna, nanak likhiya naal'-- </i>Accept the reality of this moment. This is it. There is no past and no future. This is it. To live in harmony with the laws of nature and not in conflict with that which is--is the way to eternal peace.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Japanese call this concept of acceptance <i>Uketamo</i> (oo-ke-ta-mo) which means--I accept with an open heart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lalla Dyad -the mystic Kashmiri poetess says:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(quote from the book by the same name authored by Shafi Shauq)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Why like a blind man you grope randomly?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stride into your inside, if clever you are;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Shiva resides there, never seek Him elsewhere,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And trust in the word of truth that I say."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps it is easier to seek outside. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">According to Stephen King (Stephen King on writing) "the easy answer isn't always the truth." Perhaps I'm not not ready to put in the hard work just yet. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is it possible, I ask myself, to be as utterly curious about 'who am I' as I am about the mountains and valleys and all those yet to be explored nooks of this beautiful planet?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps one day all I'll have to do is go inward like Lalla Dayd and then I'll have no need to travel. But I have a sneaky suspicion that it is my travelling and wandering that will take me to who I am -- the ultimate state of 'I accept this moment as it is -- truly and fully'.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">For the next time you're planning to escape to a land blessed with such surreal beauty that it takes your breath away every few kilometres (and not just because of the rising altitude! ) here are a few pictures to help you dream with your eyes wide open. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKalQ-rel5L_iAANWBk6A6QXZH88LcwMWYp59KPBIFMFgKSoHHksSnouuMsK2SjuTAmbIbUaML6UYs3diMjyT-xqdbBcox1s2QsU0VXYB_sOTuFgB3GjDamGbyggw6gkfrK4g0Lo3bzYVIhmlXpmv4hu1mmXs4rG2erxyzlQre36M0zI-uCmSFbvN6Cw/s6000/3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKalQ-rel5L_iAANWBk6A6QXZH88LcwMWYp59KPBIFMFgKSoHHksSnouuMsK2SjuTAmbIbUaML6UYs3diMjyT-xqdbBcox1s2QsU0VXYB_sOTuFgB3GjDamGbyggw6gkfrK4g0Lo3bzYVIhmlXpmv4hu1mmXs4rG2erxyzlQre36M0zI-uCmSFbvN6Cw/w640-h426/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX_q-6ZbQndazy-R5VOFMZO6sGM6Nuc97eBCkxT9CJAL1vZQYESBywJy-uU1AfBHLi6YigH2iCdxW9wUji8N5Lhr2QigH0wYyU0vDSz9RynDhUUf_jXJwazb-p1mrt5nCID-50OfhZk7O0_eqnMjAl0RT-H_cZ2R33l1RrN9MWKxBKKropRKWIbkUbw/s6000/4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX_q-6ZbQndazy-R5VOFMZO6sGM6Nuc97eBCkxT9CJAL1vZQYESBywJy-uU1AfBHLi6YigH2iCdxW9wUji8N5Lhr2QigH0wYyU0vDSz9RynDhUUf_jXJwazb-p1mrt5nCID-50OfhZk7O0_eqnMjAl0RT-H_cZ2R33l1RrN9MWKxBKKropRKWIbkUbw/w640-h426/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZkSnhwQWG9I8zdJxaSRUvIM9j6RslfD0A4lf1MDJlG4i_F4gb4skmTwvQhxnwBVr_-qGC9Ylcxx8K2qlt-H9pgrsXow0N8mxhqUjxXsRykduhI2uLvI5Kk4USzHn4-e95X-tHOFdHWSbX1BhF-uYocBUz5s4VaNBoTbCmKU6BgfouGMokzmC_Fp9tQ/s6000/8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZkSnhwQWG9I8zdJxaSRUvIM9j6RslfD0A4lf1MDJlG4i_F4gb4skmTwvQhxnwBVr_-qGC9Ylcxx8K2qlt-H9pgrsXow0N8mxhqUjxXsRykduhI2uLvI5Kk4USzHn4-e95X-tHOFdHWSbX1BhF-uYocBUz5s4VaNBoTbCmKU6BgfouGMokzmC_Fp9tQ/w640-h426/8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAsgGPa1HBemYmSkwSjBYnlsuR15h3dH2oNGoW6l_3dLuezNqXkRfX8YZ9gBklZPN2723ALzDA2DXc8zJYTCvByk_aJLVT48VbYNzMtrflmU_-wPP54ZmC6wtTylHGgTcVh3rduOjSgi2jev6Ct3re_xEL0SLUcUaNGKePfsT5vnWINprn_CgDWIsug/s6000/12.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAsgGPa1HBemYmSkwSjBYnlsuR15h3dH2oNGoW6l_3dLuezNqXkRfX8YZ9gBklZPN2723ALzDA2DXc8zJYTCvByk_aJLVT48VbYNzMtrflmU_-wPP54ZmC6wtTylHGgTcVh3rduOjSgi2jev6Ct3re_xEL0SLUcUaNGKePfsT5vnWINprn_CgDWIsug/w640-h426/12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>My younger self would have deleted the following photo. But in my autumn years, I see how this was meant to be. <div><br /></div><div>I wish you beauty and peace in being you just as you are in this moment. Till we meet again. Ciao.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqZlfN1kotmFp9um7iUjDGmEKD65BjtuCh9lS0jNFtZVJedJzKe37P1HgDKy0MwleHiYU5ej7x0V5a9uH7DiykbKrHUwUBNCT27IYCchU9MxNgD5N4-hxMnybSTIiL3yl-5YIJ6d3ZOKPBvr9Ckt_Lxmvt-Rp6SLRXcD5_sNuDGK291ScNmbVtH3i-g/s6000/13.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqZlfN1kotmFp9um7iUjDGmEKD65BjtuCh9lS0jNFtZVJedJzKe37P1HgDKy0MwleHiYU5ej7x0V5a9uH7DiykbKrHUwUBNCT27IYCchU9MxNgD5N4-hxMnybSTIiL3yl-5YIJ6d3ZOKPBvr9Ckt_Lxmvt-Rp6SLRXcD5_sNuDGK291ScNmbVtH3i-g/w640-h426/13.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958886527937390919.post-54665843785528672652022-07-25T10:43:00.005+03:002022-07-25T10:43:53.597+03:00A Fully Functional Feminist tackles Ageism and the art of Hustle <p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBfHBUV4ap1dPJOaf4D-eKgJ8kUCxzz7M_1jZVQgzS8lKwEdulYMAQzH1Y_SETZ3Wo0s2jthiK45UcmWRkd70iZ_scQusisfNAQnuA_3J7EZ4pHLqlW2uL5l8TrINGRq6JvPqwUp3-9BMjJPoBHIkgGXpPCxr-LZ6FxXNEdUUgvvVenovttNHsQiSAA/s1754/2000_623eb4d74626c.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBfHBUV4ap1dPJOaf4D-eKgJ8kUCxzz7M_1jZVQgzS8lKwEdulYMAQzH1Y_SETZ3Wo0s2jthiK45UcmWRkd70iZ_scQusisfNAQnuA_3J7EZ4pHLqlW2uL5l8TrINGRq6JvPqwUp3-9BMjJPoBHIkgGXpPCxr-LZ6FxXNEdUUgvvVenovttNHsQiSAA/w452-h640/2000_623eb4d74626c.webp" width="452" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dear Readers,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I hope you've been well and if you're in the northern hemisphere, you've found a way to keep yourself cool and safe from the blistering heat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been hot and bothered this summer. And not just because of the 75% humidity combined with the rising mercury in Doha.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As many of you, who know me via my writing journey, know that I like to inflict the pain of submitting my writing to literary journals every now and then. I do this for two reasons:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">1) to get published -- perhaps this is my ego based reason. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">2) to expand my writing horizon: write about topics I haven't found the courage to write about yet or explore genres which have thus far felt out of reach. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second reason is a non-egoistic reason. It's the 'being a student for as long as I'm alive' reason. This reason feeds my curiosity and makes me indulge in what I love--the practice of writing and reading. This reason makes me appreciate and be grateful for the privilege of being able to write. Writing is a privilege indeed. I'm thankful to my parents for the education they supported, to my teachers for the education they imparted and for my place in the socio-economic fabric of society where I am able to find the time to write and share. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes, these submissions bear fruit and a piece gets accepted. Like, this one in March 2022:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's called </span><b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CPweeeXVqFAujAXs2AVsG4tgAjzXjjC_/view" target="_blank">A Fully Functional Feminist</a>.</b> <span style="font-family: georgia;">It was carried by</span> <b><a href="https://www.gulmohurquarterly.com/issues">Gulmohur Quarterly</a> </b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The joy of acceptance can hardly be contained in a post. I'll always be grateful to the editors of Gulmohur Quarterly for housing my voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Like any journey worth its salt, the writing journey is challenging and revealing. The more I write and share my stories and poetry, the more this world reveals itself to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently, while filling out a Google Form, I ticked the last 'age box' which read 50 +. I've been very comfortable about my age since 2015 when I wrote <a href="https://artismoments.blogspot.com/2015/05/adventurous-auntyjis-arrive-in-kareri.html" target="_blank">Adventurous Auntyjis arrive in Himachal</a>. In 2015, it was the physical fading out of women of a certain age that had rattled me enough to pour my heart out into a post.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Age is a number and it's what you do with your time, not how you look that matters in the end. I get that. I live that. I imbibe that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But, this form tingled my age antennae because the boxes preceding my 'age box' were:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">20-25</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">25- 30</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">20-35</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">35-40</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">40-45</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">45-50</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And then there was</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">50+</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">No, the Google form wasn't for some physical prowess type contest. It was for a poetry/storytelling platform. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I proceeded to submit my entry anyway. Ego is a tricky thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But, the form and its boxes troubled me. It's the fading off of my creative/intellectual/ intelligence calibre in the eyes of the beholder that pinched, hurt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is this an age thing or a gender thing or a technology thing or a talent thing? Am I crying sour grapes because I lack what it takes?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know I've entered the foray of poetry and storytelling late. I make no excuses. I was busy raising myself and then my family in my teens, twenties and thirties. By the time I was able to sift time for myself and my writing, I had turned forty and then fifty. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, does that mean that my stories, which are not always and only about young love, heartbreak and pining are not worthy? Of course, I'm not claiming credit based on my age, but don't write me off because of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Looking at that last age box made me feel like after all the struggles of climbing a mountain, I'd lost my way and instead of finding a road ahead, I had reached a plateau where all those above 50 (who are starting out anew in arts or pursuits of their calling) are assigned to fade away, noiselessly, without disturbing the status quo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sometimes, I feel that I have no business being a participant in such forums. And that I'm better suited to be a part of the invisible audience where my claps will be heard but anonymously. That by now I should've made my mark in this field and if not--I should shut up and go home. That trying out new things is a privilege suited and suitable only for the young. That I should've chosen this path in my teens to prove that this was my true calling. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps, I'm a fake artist. Or an artist of convenience--someone who's quit their job to pursue a passion because they have the means to. Have I become that someone? Am I that vain? That blind? That greedy to be famous? That inept to see my own true self?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Am I an imposter after all? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Art is my solace. Books rescue me. Poetry pulls me out of the deep whirlpools my fading visibility threatens to push me into.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I read a post by Idea Smith on Instagram last week. She'd shared her experiences of being boxed into age-related-ideas by the world at large. She mentioned the invisibility cloak the world is always eager to drape over 'us' -- women who are not in the 20-30 box anymore.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her post made me think about my age, my visibility, my stories and this old-new word I've been seeing and hearing a lot recently--HUSTLE.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a verb, hustle can mean 'to jostle, to push roughly or to obtain illicitly or by forceful action.' As a noun it can either mean 'a state of great activity' or 'fraud or swindle.'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm told that 'hustle' is the ticket to get noticed these days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I see a lot of 'hustle' in the field of the written word. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But the question is, does it appeal to me? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I post regularly on Instagram. It's a routine I enjoy. I share because I like to share. I get visibility for my work via Insta posts. I like that. I've made meaningful connections via my posts. And even those posts where I smile at the camera to simply show off a saree are important to me. It's my visibility cloak.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Are my Insta posts my hustle? Am I being fraudulent? Is my reel-ism bleaching my real-ism? Questions such as these churn me up. Churning births art, clarity and a deeper understanding of the self. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I prefer to post when I'm in my 'creative' phase; those morning when sitting on my dining chair, propped up on an old, faded sage green cushion, I start my day by writing a post, a page or a line. In my non-creative phase, I pick up a book to read instead. That's been my rhythm forever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The age-boxes broke my rhythm and nudged me into the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">mulling-over-things phase. I've been brooding over the idea of ageism, visibility, art and creativity</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ever since. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is 50+ the retired area of story-telling and spoken word performances? Hence, assigned a one size fits all box? Do we not deserve an incremental improvement of our art every 5 years like those in their twenties and thirties? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And why am I hankering to be boxed in when I should be breaking free? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Confusion is the enemy of creativity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Suffice to say, I wasn't able to focus on any writing for an entire week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know there is a unique point of view assigned to every age-group. A five year old's story of struggle to convince his Ma to let him eat ice-cream for dinner is as valid and true as the pain of a teenager's first heartbreak which is as raw as a forty something being called auntyji by a complete stranger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Discrimination on any grounds hurts art. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm not saying I feel discriminated against because of my age because I haven't. Not yet, anyway. But I do see too much of the same old stereotypical story-lines and poems circulating around. So, how do I pick myself up and dust off the disappointments and focus on my art, my voice?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another poet friend, Parth, sent me a message yesterday. It read--"the need to express and the want to express sometimes seem to go separate ways---acceptance is the key-- acceptance of the fact that art will always be there."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I thank my lucky stars for these seemingly co-incidental connections. I find my answer in Parth's words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, art will be there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">True art needs no hustle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As long as I have visibility of my truth, I should stop wasting my time on what others are doing and focus on how I can share my truth truthfully--without fraud or jostling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">My duty is to my art. By writing and sharing and speaking the truth of how I feel is the only way I know to break the boxes and step out of 'isms' that restrict and constrict. By speaking my truth I can at least, at last shine light on my despairs and hopefully, resonate with others who've felt this way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hard-work has no substitute. And talent? Well, I believe in honesty and hard work and practice, practice, practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Together we can strive to keep our true selves visible to ourselves, to each other and for each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kahlil Gibran says this about 'Self-Knowledge' in <i>The Prophet</i>: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.'</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Say not, "I have found the path to the soul.' Say rather, 'I have met the soul walking upon my path.'</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">For the soul walks upon all paths.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.'</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Poetry rescues me every time. I scrub off the dust of false self-perceptions from my fading ego and settle down to write my story in my voice. I settle down. I sit. The unfolding of petals cannot be forced. It will happen when it's meant to. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>"The soul walks not upon a line. The soul unfolds itself..."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">My job is to use my voice to live by the principles I truly believe in--equality and kindness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">If any of the above has found resonance with you or you'd like to offer your point of view or share your self-care strategies with me, you know I'd love to read your comments. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wishing you a restful and joyful day wherever you are.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Till we meet again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arti</span></p>Artihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15455186909681790185noreply@blogger.com13