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Life on the Deckle Edge

Poetry Friday - Dear March by Emily D and Irish Blessings

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers! Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend. 

 

I remember a plaque on the wall of my grandparents' house with (some version of) the famous Irish Blessing:

 

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

(There are variations, of course, and it should be noted this is an English interpretation!  Similar blessings in Irish Gaelic might not be translated correctly.)

 

Also, wasn't it also at their house - or at my other grandmother's house? - where I was amused by the plaque that read,

 

May you be in Heaven

a half an hour before

the Devil knows you're dead.

 

Any other fun Irish sayings/blessings that come to mind? Not everything that circulates is accurate, I'd wager, but we do like to claim our Irish roots, don't we?

 

Back on this side of the ocean, I'll also celebrate the month with our Dear Emily D. (1830 - 1886).

 

Dear March—Come in—(1320)

by Emily Dickinson


Dear March—Come in—
How glad I am—
I hoped for you before—
Put down your Hat—
You must have walked—
How out of Breath you are—
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest—
Did you leave Nature well—
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me—
I have so much to tell—

 

I got your Letter, and the Birds—
The Maples never knew that you were coming—
I declare - how Red their Faces grew—
But March, forgive me—
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue—
There was no Purple suitable—
You took it all with you—

 

Who knocks? That April—
Lock the Door—
I will not be pursued—
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied—
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

 

That blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame—

 

Wishing you and yours a lovely start to SPRING.  Pear trees and forsythia are blooming in full force here, and a pair of bluebirds has returned to our back yard.

 

Please wish Tanita a Happy Birthday Month over at {fiction, instead of lies}, and enjoy all the wonderful poetry she's rounding up!  Thanks, Tanita. 

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Poetry Friday - Meet Oskar over at Laurie Purdie Salas's Host Post!

Happy International Women's Day!  This woman is hoping to be caught up by next week.  In the meantime, please enjoy meeting Oskar, the star of Laura Purdie Salas's latest picture book, and do check out the Roundup here. See you soon!

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Poetry Friday - Invest in the Ripples at TeacherDance!

Just a wave from here this week - been driving all over the county and waiting at various veterinary appointments, waiting at the tax office, waiting at the DMV - and trying to meet deadlines in between!  Please visit our beautiful and ever-thoughtful Linda at TeacherDance for the Roundup, and for a soul-nourishing post as well. Happy March!

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Poetry Friday - Haiku in bottle rockets - and Happy 25 Years to the Journal!

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

 

Short and sweet today with a big shout-out to Stanford Forrester and bottle rockets! Congrats on 25 years (50 issues) of this wonderful journal.  Here's to the next 25....

 

Always honored to have a poem included, and here's one I have in this issue:

 

just a number

rainwater seeps into

my boots

 

The amazing Tabatha has the Roundup today at The Opposite of Indifference.  Thank you, Tabatha! 

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Poetry Friday - More New Year Poetry Post Cards

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers! Hope you've felt loved this Valentine's Day week. 

 

I'm happy to share the rest of the postcards I've received as part of the New Year Poetry Postcard Swap, organized by Jone Rush MacCulloch. Participants send these wonderful greetings any time after January 1 through the Chinese/Lunar New Year (February 10 this year).  Poems and images may or may not include the animal for the year, which is currently the Wood Dragon. (My post last week featured my own postcard, and on January 25, I featured the first three I received.)  

 

Enlarge the picture to get a sense of the images in these delightful dozen, and here are excerpted poems from them:

 

Peace Four Ways 2024

by Linda Mitchell

 

How to write a peace poem

when our world knows only war?

Millions wander with no home

How to write a peace poem?

as bomb-dropping drones 

pollute our skies and more?

How to write a peace poem?

when our world knows only war?

 

Peace

quiet covers

this warring world

we fight

ourselves

 

this peace at twilight

this refuge from day's worries

a breath for this world

 

In 2024, let

us remake the world for peace

Let us take a moment to begin

again the notion that with

a new year there's no war for you or me

 

 

 

from Denise Krebs:

 

Robyn

creative artist

visionary life-giver

like the wood dragon

Awaiting

 

-another elfchen for Robyn

(Aww... thank you, Denise!)

 

 

From Margaret Simon:

 

GRACE

BELONGS HERE

TELLING ME HOW

GOOD I AM NOW

---

WISDOM

 

 

From Gail Aldous:

 

sun holds blue sky's hands

they persuade gray clouds away

sparkling peace and light

 

 

From Molly Hogan:

 

When you lose sight

of the beauty around you

may a new day

restore glory

to the tattered and ordinary

and light the way

 

 

From Michelle Kogan:

 

together

we can do more

let's begin

 

 

   ---

 

Get Ready...

 

Compass 

Cooper's Hawk

as you navigate

unknown, unbalanced paths of

2024...

 

From Carol Varsalona:

 

Year of the Wood Dragon

 

breath

of fire

warms winter's chills

offering energy and opportunities - 

possibilities

 

---

 

snowdrops

freeflutter on

windchilled days like

glittery fairies dancing together

winterwonder

 

From Jone Rush MacCulloch:

 

first morning, walking on the beach, what

treasures does the ebbing tide have?

Reading sea-foam like tea leaves, I

wonder what my ancestors risked?

 

From Tabatha Yeatts (& dragon on her card was created by Elena):

 

As the new year delivers the unknown to hand,

Fortify yourself as well as you can:

 

Repair your armor, pack a shield,

Stow words and memories that heal,

 

Keep compassion on tap and pour a deep flagon - 

We're at the edge of the map, and here be dragons.

 

 

 

From Linda Baie:

 

new year's gift - 

forget the hurry

waste time every day

listen to the rain

and to the cat's purr

 

 

Postcard images and poems are copyright each poet. Thank you, poets, for sharing!

 

For even more wonderful poetry, row your way over to Reflections on the Teche, where our lovely and talented Margaret (included above!) is rounding up Poetry Friday this week. 

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Poetry Friday - Happy Lunar New Year, Dragon Fans!

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  Continuing a recent theme, I've received more wonderful, creative New Year postcards as part of Jone Rush MacCulloch's Poem Postcard Exchange, and I look forward to featuring them next week. (Or the next couple of weeks, depending on how many I can fit in a picture!) These surprises in the mailbox really brighten a day, especially in winter.

 

Today I thought I'd share mine that I sent out this week to everyone.  I hope these cards make it by Saturday, the beginning of the Chinese/Lunar New Year! 

 

Jone always adds a nod to the Lunar New Year (and its animal) as a an option for creative inspiration. The postcard exchange itself is inspired, she says, by the Japanese custom of Nengajo - sending out greetings for the New Year. 

 

Jone shared that her own birth year's animal is the water dragon, so she's related to Nessie.  ;0) (Slaintѐ to that, Jone!!)  The animal for 2024 is the wood dragon. 

 

Online you'll find all kinds of info, customs, and folklore surrounding these dragons as well as the other animals.  The New Year is a huge holiday in many Asian countries, with countless people travelling to their home towns to celebrate, and many businesses closing for a week.

 

As for me, I've always loved dragons. (My first published/now out-of-print book, a Scholastic Rookie Reader called Sir Mike, featured an imaginary one!)

 

For my postcards, I reached back into my own misty imagination to find dragons.  Did anybody else "sculpt" treasures from a simple dough in the kitchen, and bake them into being? My mother was very supportive of the creative messes my brother Mike and I could make.  Thank you, Mom.

Oh - and Happy 44th Anniversary today to my mother, Nita,  and her Valentine, Jack!

 

 

Here Be

 

Flour, salt, water
Our mother showed us
how to form dough
 into whatever we wanted
bake it, wait for it to cool.

 

I made dragons
with pointy wings
and arrowhead tips on their tails.
Their edges browned.
I painted them purple

and royal blue.

 

If I close my eyes,

I can see them

 

flying

 

feel the warmth
of their fiery
dissipating
breath.

 

©2024 Robyn Hood Black

 

Fun note: In more of my own internet explorations about Lunar New Year dragons, many days after I wrote this poem, I discovered that their lucky colors are purple and blue.  How about that?!!

 

The background for my poem card came from some canvas-textured papers I dyed with indigo powder during a recent online mixed media workshop I took. I scanned a small sheet into my computer and enlarged it a wee bit to make it 5 X 7 size.  For the dragon, I carved a little block of "Easy Carve" (like linoleum, but much softer and easier on the hands).  I had drawn a quick sketch - just from imagination, as I was trying to recall freely drawing dragons as a kid - and made a simple outline of it on the block, then loosely carved away. 

 

I printed the image individually on each card.  Some came out with fairly crisp, even impressions - the usual goal for printmaking, and others were a bit messier.  But, my favorites ended up with gradated amounts of ink over the image, kind of ghostly, like the one above. I thought these blended in with the billowy nature of the indigo wash, adding a hint of mystery, maybe.

 

Final note:  If you search online for "Here Be Dragons," which maybe a few of us (?) thought was a common warning found on very old maps, you might discover as I did that a Latin variation appeared on a globe at the beginning of the 16th Century... and that's about it.  But I do love me some illustrated sea monsters and such on antique maps! 

 

Thanks for reading my rambles.  Now, get out your compass and ramble on over to Beyond Literacy Link, where the ever-generous and creative Carol has our Roundup. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all you LOVE-ly people!

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Poetry Friday - Go See Mary Lee!

Howdy - I'm a bit covered up this week, but please make your way to A(nother) Year of Reading, where Mary Lee has our Poetry Friday Roundup and - shhhh...!- secrets!!

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Poetry Friday - Some New Year Poetry Postcard Swap Treasures

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  One of the best things about starting a new year is looking forward to mailbox surprises thanks to the New Year Poetry Postcard Swap.  This adventure is organized by Jone Rush MacCulloch; you can scroll to the end of her recent post to get a sense of the "rules" (and put it on your to-do list for next year, if interested, if you're not participating this year.)

 

One reason I love this Swap is that it indulges my put-it-off-til-the-last-minute tendencies, as poets can send cards for the Chinese/Lunar New Year if desired. (Give me an inch, and - well, you know.) ;0) This year, the celebrated animal is the wood dragon.   

 

I found a website called TheChineseZodiac.org which says, The Wood Dragon is the most creative and visionary of the dragons.

 

Others among us are much more together, and I'm already enjoying receiving cards, though mine aren't yet in the mail.  I'm sharing three today.  (A fourth just arrived - will round it up soon!)

 

From Patricia J.Franz, a dragon image on one side, and this imagery-filled poem on the other:

 

Benevolent One

 

Bless the desert hare your winged shadow,

the thirsty herd safe river cross.

Replenish the lakes your rippled tears,

toss the seas - ships demure

And bless us wide horizons,

the health and strength to cross them.

 

©Patricia J. Franz

 

Janice Scully sent a beautiful photo of the Pacifica, California, coastline with this poem:

 

The New Year begins

as quiet and inevitable

as a wave

 

©Janice Scully

 

As you might know, Mary Lee Hahn has been creating all kinds of wonderful art and items since retiring a couple-few years ago from being a regular classroom teacher, among other endeavors. Her wonderful card features a handmade print in blue ink:  YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS.  Its delicious carving marks offer the texture I adore in printmaking.

 

Here is her handwritten poem on the reverse:

 

               Summon up bravery...

               dismantle hesitation...

               BEGIN!

 

                             (you've got this)

 

                ©Mary Lee Hahn

 

 

Many thanks to these three fine humans and talented poets/artists for these gifts.  I'm always inspired by these greetings, and in need of the inspiration and encouragement they bring! I'll appreciate blessings, acknowldege the quiet inevitable, and summon up some bravery here at the beginning of a new year, and a new year around the sun for me starting next week. ;0)

 

Now head over to Chicken Spaghetti, where the insightful Susan is helping us celebrate the Año Nuevo, with a poem inspired by a prompt from The Writing Sisters. And, she's rounding us all up!  Thanks, Susan.  

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Poetry Friday - The Roundup is HERE! So is Tea Time....

My miniature Fiestaware teapot with a couple of artsyletters bookmarks for tea lovers.  

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  The Roundup is HERE - thanks for dropping by! Welcome to seasoned Poetry Friday-ers and any newcomers, too.

 

It's quite chilly outside; would you care for a cup of tea?  It's National Hot Tea Month.  (Here is a link with more links.)

 

Now, right off the bat, I assure you that I realize I'm no Jama Kim Rattigan, with so many steaming posts and accompanying to-die-for art and photos celebrating tea time, HotTEAS, and such. 

 

But I do enjoy a nice cuppa tea.  

 

Growing up, it was mainly iced tea... (Florida!).  In middle school, I would come home each afternoon while my mom was working and make tea in the old brown-ish Fiestaware teapot.  We drank it with a fair bit of sugar, every day!  I'm blaming that memory on the fact that I recently bought three little mini Fiestaware teapots - one for me, above, and one each for our kiddos/couples. (I refrained from buying one for my sweet mom, as she's trying to lighten up, not load up, her collections.)  I still have a few tiny tea sets from my childhood. I also have three miniature enamelware teapots sporting Van Gogh art that my husband's mother gave me years ago, and they remind me of her when I see them, and also remind me how swiftly life flows. I also have my mother's mother's Occupied Japan tea set, which I've yet to display in our (newish) home.

 

And there was our daughter's sixth birthday celebration, a tea party for which we bought mismatched vintage tea cups and sent them home as favors.  (That was 26 years ago - Happy Birthday next week, Morgan!!)

 

And the two-plus hour drive I made to meet my dearest friend Sue at a tea room, as she was undergoing treatments for breast cancer.  I still have a (now empty) tin with a "Shakespeare Tea" label she secretly bought for me that day and gave to me later. 

 

In recent years I've turned my morning brew from coffee to tea.  I make a nice cup of something British, and a whole little pot of dandelion root tea.  Then a smaller pot with two bags of green tea and one hibiscus.  I drink on these all day long! Faves include (decaf) Clipper Teas (England); Barry's (Ireland) - a hearty, warm, amber-golden tea; and a light golden Highlands Tea from the Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company. Sometimes Uncle Lee's (organic) green tea, and Prince of Peace (organic) oolong.  Anything from Yogi Teas, Traditional Medicinals, Numi... oh, and most nights, a cup of tummy-settling peppermint tea from Celestial Seasonings.

 

What are your favorite teas?

 

Before all of the British/European versions of tea, of course, Camellia sinensis was cultivated in Asia. (And herbal teas have been around for many centuries, across cultures.) 

 

For some Japanese flavor, here's a haiku by Issa (1763-1828), translated by David G. Lanoue:

 

year unknown

.初空のもやうに立や茶の煙
hatsu-zora no moyô ni tatsu ya cha no keburi

 

rising into
the year's first sky...
tea smoke

 

You can visit David's amazing archive of Kobayashi Issa poems he's translated here.  In the search box, type in "tea" - or whatever subject strikes your fancy!

 

Here's a tasty English morsel about tea, from Sydney Smith (1771-1845), who lived many of those same years on this earth as Issa.  It's from the memoir compiled by Smith's daughter, Lady Holland:

 

Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? -- how did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.

 

Finally, a contemporary nod.  Carol Ann Duffy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1955 and was appointed Britain's poet laureate in 2009.

 

Her love poem simply titled "Tea" begins this way:

 

I like pouring your tea, lifting

the heavy pot, and tipping it up

so the fragrant liquid streams in your china cup....

 

Enjoy hearing the poet read this poem here.  To learn more about Carol Ann Duffy, click here or here

 

Now, lift those pinkies and drop your links into the comments!  I'll round up old-school.  (Getting over some bug, so it might take me a wee bit longer than usual.)

 

Oh, and please pass the scones.... 

 

[Links to the bookmarks in the photo are here.]

 

Also, my Authors Guild site is not playing nicely with Irene's computer.  I'll get her post into the Roundup with the other morning posts - but here's the link in the meantime! 

https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2024/01/heaven-poem-with-mule.html .

 

 ******

 

Laura Purdie Salas kicks us off this week with an original poem (inspired by Susan Thomsen's overheard snippets poetry) that will have you pondering and smiling long after you read it, "Holding My Own Hand." Out of the mouth of babes, methinks....

 

Speaking of which, thematically at least, Tabatha has a startling and life-humorous original poem, "Shields Up," at The Opposite of Indifference, based on an early childhood experience of one of her wonderful kids.

 

The ever-creative Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise offers us a contemplation of war and childhood innocence with a profound ekphrastic golden shovel poem inspired by an Edith Breckwold sculpture she encountered on a recent trip to Germany.

 

Michelle Kogan never fails to be inspired or to inspire, and this week she brings a fresh perspective on these +BRRRRRR+ frigid temps!  Leave it to her to find beauty in the harsh Chicago winter with her "Icefish" and related poems, and she shares a hauntingly sad/beautiful song by Patty Griffin and a fetching original haiku to boot!

 

Janice Scully (who also drinks Barry's tea!) has armfuls of love for octopuses today over at Salt City Verse (and a wonderful Winter Swap postcard from Mary Lee Hahn).

 

If you've never wandered over to Jan's Bookseed Studio, then you might not know you are ALWAYS in for a delight and surprise and often a deep think.  She's taking her (generously bestowed) powers of observation to a fun and whole new level this week - treating us to all kinds of Florida SNOW in pictures and poems.  This Florida girl enjoyed the virtual romp, especially with super-low temps here in the Southern Appalachians this weekend.

 

Over at Poetry Pizzazz, Alan J. Wright reminds us Northern Hemisphere folks that summer is turning into a brand new school year in Australia.  His original poem, "We Start Out Fresh and Shiny," will have you sitting up a bit straighter and smiling as you read along. 

 

Karen Eastlund is also all about the snow this week, the real kind.  She's had a tease of a dusting but wants MORE.  Grab your mittens and sled and go join her for some great photos from years past, and a short original poem, "Waiting for Snow: An Elfchen," packed with the cold stuff.  (See what I did there?)

 

Now, you KNOW our Buffy Silverman knows a thing or two about seasons and poetry.  She recently took an online class from our ultra-talented buddy and teacher, April Halprin Wayland, and she's sharing the drifts.  I mean, drafts.  Which are all about the birds in her back yard this winter - you'll look at your own yard birds with new eyes after reading these!

 

Speaking of birds, over at Chicken Spaghetti, Susan Thomsen introduces us to a literary journal called Birdfeast with a human-condition poem for the new year called "Anniversary" by Maria Nazos.  Make sure to join the Poetry Friday flock at her place next week.

 

Ruth is chiming in from Uganda, and There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town, and her back porch at sunrise with two glorious poems - "Fifty-Fifty" by Patricia Clark and her own take, "Fifty-Fifty in Kampala." 

 

At Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme, our busy Matt has taken a word-playful poem out of the freezer to share again, "January Shoreline."  Brrrr!

 

There is much to CHERISH at Denise Krebs's Dare to Care digs this week, including her golden shovel based on a line from "Begin Again" by Jeannette Encinias. She also has several links, including one for the Staffford challenge, and some aDORable pictures of adventures with her wee grandson who visited recently.

 

Carmela Martino checks in from Teaching Authors this week with a poetic bounty of LIGHTER fare for the new year - you're guaranteed to leave her post with a little less baggage and a smile on your face!  Also, she shares some fun publication news.  (Insert clapping hands emoji here.)

 

Of course, poetry helps us express and understand the wide berth of emotions. Karin Fisher-Gorton shares a beautifully personal poem today, honoring her father who died in September.  She offers wonderful and accessible definitions of ekphrastic and golden shovel poems as well.  The images, in a special photograph and in her words, will stay with you.

 

And yet, the geese in Karin's post - or their cousins - have taken a trip to Linda Baie's TeacherDance for some more pondering. Linda's post and poem remind us to #getoutside while we can, between these frigid periods for those of us here in the States!

 

At Tangles & Tails, Tracey has a letter of apology to the (former) star of many of our holiday living rooms - the Christmas tree, in January.  (Add your thoughts to the thoughtful comments taking root beneath her post!)

 

Friends - Did you know our own Amy LV at The Poem Farm is offering a wonderful new video series perfect for young (& young-at-heart) poets, perfect for the classroom? This week marks Week 3 in her "Coaxing Poems" videos!  If you know a teacher, get them there forthwith! Using three of her own short poems as examples, today she gets out some Legos and leads eager learners in how to "make and break a pattern."

 

Take a deep breath and enjoy a small but imagery-filled tribute to a task I doubt many of us do... but I might start, after reading Mary Lee's pillowcase poem post at A(nother) Year of Reading.

 

At Imagine the Possibilities, Rose has a white-on-white treat for us today - two orginal poems featuring their charge for a couple of weeks, a Great Pyranees named Anna, and - snow!

 

Marcie Flinchum Atkins treats us to a new haiku for the New Year (and gorgeous photo), an educational shout-out to Thank You, Garden by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Simone Shin, and a little personal writing progress report! 

 

Heidi will remind us, as we chat about the weather, that we can not forget the CLIMATE. She has a thought-provoking poem by Kate Cell (who happens to be on staff at the Union of Concerned Scientists) from an anthology Heidi herself has a poem in. Also, check out some of creative, tech-savvy, innovative folks on the forefront of climate action! All this and more at Heidi's My Juicy Little Universe

 

You never know what you'll find at Unexpected Intersections - Elisabeth is rallying from a busy writing year and being under the weather for some of this one to embrace a fun challenge. She's using Story Cubes as poem prompts.  Go join the fun!

 

Irene's ekphrastic adventures seris, Artspeak, is exploring a folk art theme blooming with poetic surprises.  I'm only giving you the title of her poem today; you will not be able to resist clicking to learn more! Visit Live Your Poem to read "Mule Ringing the Doorbell in Heaven."

 

JoAnn Early Macken invites us for an early morning view outside her window in a lovely poem with a clever twist.  This is another one for the birds!

 

Patricia's got us all in a web of connection at Reading, Writing Wondering, with words that stick in a provocative, personal poem. Well done!

 

No, you have NOT had enough snow - yet.  Jane has some amazing photos, chilly travel memories, and perfectly suited words from Robert Louis Stevenson to add to the magic at Rain City Librarian.

 

Find an elfchen and some adorable grandchildren enjoying the snow over at Beyond Literacy Week, where Carol has emerged from a very demanding week with a sigh and a pause for tea and poetry.  You'll leave her post with a smile on your face, and probably a snowflake on the tip of your nose. 

 

At Reflections on the Teche, Margaret serves up another elfchen and a gracious peek into her own writing journal, with another nod to the Stafford Challenge. Also, a can't-miss-it peek into her amazing heart as a creative teacher. 

 

Thank you to Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone for sharing a personal poem of grief with us today, "Sucker Punched." She's living out the name of her blog with this touching poem which will surely strike a chord with many readers. 

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Poetry Friday - Go See Tracey!

A howdy and a wave... it's been a week!  Too much of one to get a post conjured up here, but please go enjoy all the poetic goodness rounded up at Tracey's Tangles and Tails. Do come back next week, though - I have the honor of hosting on Jan. 19.  See you then!

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