{"product_id":"2940152941784","title":"Whirlpools of Silence","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy This Old Wall\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMen and women gather here to be alone within themselves\u003cbr\u003eSome cry, some weep red tears\u003cbr\u003eSome connect with perfect strangers, touch, go away together\u003cbr\u003eNo one knows why\u003cbr\u003eBy this old wall\u003cbr\u003eBut I too feel the melancholy\u003cbr\u003eThe utter hopelessness\u003cbr\u003eI call the wall\u003cbr\u003eSome people drop coins and bills\u003cbr\u003eSome ask for help\u003cbr\u003eBut everyone feels\u003cbr\u003ewhat they need most in life\u003cbr\u003eAnd are left alone to weep\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnowing I’m Not the Only One\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe were playing with her little dog outside\u003cbr\u003ewho took my treats at a distance,\u003cbr\u003enervous and fearful of me\u003cbr\u003e“It takes a long time for her to warm up and trust anyone”\u003cbr\u003eI laughed, “I’m like that too”\u003cbr\u003eShe whispered “Me too”\u003cbr\u003eAnd we looked at each other and smiled at this big truth shared,\u003cbr\u003eover such a little thing, feeling a little less out of place\u003cbr\u003ein the world\u003cbr\u003eSometimes so strange in my own skin trying to understand\u003cbr\u003ewhy I am the way I am,\u003cbr\u003eOften not meeting my own expectations\u003cbr\u003eabout how I should be\u003cbr\u003eKnowing I’m not the only one\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLanguish\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer entire day “spent in my pajamas, and I’m not going to leave the house even once”\u003cbr\u003eI smiled, ready to leave her at the door, saying “I love you” after our weekend together\u003cbr\u003eLanguishing away half a day talking about poetry contests and new books in process, delightful in a way, but too much to do in two lifetimes or more\u003cbr\u003eNext weekend we spend at the ocean wandering around, staying on the river where it goes out to sea, watching the big ocean going ships come and go, making love, playing cards, relaxing into each other’s company\u003cbr\u003eI’m thankful to be me in this huge world of yours, with one special one to love and love me too, as we languish happily away together…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Ridiculous Man\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraying for good weather to work outside\u003cbr\u003eJobs that pay\u003cbr\u003eA loving woman, peace with her\u003cbr\u003eAsking God for so much\u003cbr\u003ePretending deep concern for other beings\u003cbr\u003eWanting sincerely to be this way\u003cbr\u003eGetting up in the morning, thinking, always thinking\u003cbr\u003eLate at night his favorite time of day\u003cbr\u003eSleeping, silent, mind peaceful\u003cbr\u003eSoul at rest, dreaming\u003cbr\u003eThere are beautiful sunny calm waking moments\u003cbr\u003eWrapped in love, grateful to live, alive\u003cbr\u003eLazy heartfelt moments that quench his thirsty soul\u003cbr\u003eGive hope and life something back\u003cbr\u003eThose thank you moments that go down\u003cbr\u003eIn life’s journal of prayers, sacred\u003cbr\u003eMoments even a ridiculous man treasures\u003cbr\u003eWhen we walk with Great Spirit hand in hand, equally\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhirlpools Of Silence\u003cbr\u003edownstream where the\u003cbr\u003eriver bends sharply\u003cbr\u003eand the rapids run out\u003cbr\u003ethere are whippoorwills\u003cbr\u003eand geese, ducks, beaver\u003cbr\u003eand deer come to drink\u003cbr\u003ethere are little whirlpools\u003cbr\u003eand eddies where the river\u003cbr\u003eplays and birds congregate\u003cbr\u003eto mate\u003cbr\u003ewhirlpools of silence\u003cbr\u003eeddy here at first light\u003cbr\u003eI come here then\u003cbr\u003eto listen to the silence\u003cbr\u003econdense into morning\u003cbr\u003eas the stars fade away\u003cbr\u003eno longer bright, time slows\u003cbr\u003eto a trickle, holding all the\u003cbr\u003eworld in one long still moment\u003cbr\u003eof peace until overtaken by\u003cbr\u003ethe day\u003cbr\u003ewe are all equal now\u003cbr\u003eour mother earth’s children\u003cbr\u003eI wish we could stay this way\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patrick J. Leach","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47158517465328,"sku":"2940152941784","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940152941784_p0.jpg?v=1764026391","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940152941784","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}