<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq m8h3af8h gh25dzvf" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">In My Room </div><div dir="auto" class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">You were softly stroking the little dog in your lap</div><div dir="auto" class="">until she whimpered a small sigh and fell asleep.</div><div dir="auto" class="">Then <a tabindex="-1" style="color: rgb(56, 88, 152); cursor: pointer;" class=""></a>you closed your eyes, because peace is within.</div><div dir="auto" class="">You go there often, because it beckons you.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">Outside, the breeze had come up and garden stalks</div><div dir="auto" class="">were swaying gently back and forth, like devices</div><div dir="auto" class="">the hypnotist employs to create a trance.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">In the trance, faces appear, are visibly transformed,</div><div dir="auto" class="">then disappear, replaced by the shadows waiting</div><div dir="auto" class="">in line for their chance to step forward into flesh.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">Before, they had made promises to each other</div><div dir="auto" class="">which some would keep, and others would not,</div><div dir="auto" class="">because in this mirror world of sly deceptions</div><div dir="auto" class="">and unexpected temptations, we discover</div><div dir="auto" class="">who we really are.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">You are kind, you mixed your tears with mine</div><div dir="auto" class="">in the same way streams run down the mountain</div><div dir="auto" class="">and join with each other, where a forest animal</div><div dir="auto" class="">stoops to drink, and it is cool and refreshing.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">The animal relaxes for a moment, not because</div><div dir="auto" class="">it feels suddenly safe and invulnerable,</div><div dir="auto" class="">but because being alive is sweet.</div></div><div class="kmwttqpk n3t5jt4f l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq gh25dzvf jikcssrz" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><div dir="auto" class="">I wouldn’t have known that if we hadn’t met –</div><div dir="auto" class="">that being alive in this moment is sweet —</div><div dir="auto" class="">or maybe I’d pretend, but I’d be fooling</div><div dir="auto" class="">myself, and when alone in my room,</div><div dir="auto" class="">I’d be pierced by the lie of it.</div><div dir="auto" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- <a class="bdao358l rse6dlih m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq cr00lzj9 qi72231t n3hqoq4p rn8ck1ys oxkhqvkx fq87ekyn nu7423ey icdlwmnq s3jn8y49 s5oniofx r86q59rh cxfqmxzd tes86rjd kmwttqpk fsf7x5fv nch0832m rl78xhln d1w2l3lo srn514ro b3qcqh3k" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008140210536&__cft__[0]=AZV7xV96ULTe21GvIgd2H0Gjvlh0HeYEt01QhND0gxslDeeLO3njikpapzG4FkAtARp89TccH2AQkAvUeuYTHY7UxFsgrI42_7uB23-DAxFsCj8sK9ufLEy0yyh_WvGH3Gd8wWRjABZayxoqeL_KiSjIEkrSixIUFSJzs5KmMcoEnOgce2841uzsexRkhQyOevmM3EE_R4uH01nxarj4mXS0&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0" style="color: var(--accent); cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; outline: none; list-style: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; touch-action: manipulation;"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">Bob O'Hearn</span></a></div></div></div></body></html>