Today the soft, warm folds br of your words were scraped br away by cold, harsh voices, br grating on my nerves, tearing br at my feelings, without the br covering of your enfolding br arms, my skin was abraded br by the harshness of reality, br and I cried… br br I became aware of the cold br silence where your sweet br voice used to sing in golden br tones; without the layer of br your assurance, the cold br penetrated my heart, I lost br my footing, slipped and fell, br you weren’t there to catch me, br and I cried… br br Looked for help in my gurubooks, br they advised never to love so br much that we would miss anyone, br we are only strong as long as we’re br not dependent on someone, our br power and strength must lie inside, br but I love your voice and your arms, br I don’t want to stop loving them, br and I cried… br br Tonight I sang the melody br that welled up inside me, br was told to put a sock in it, br to quiet down, I realized br your ears were not there br to catch the chords of my br tune, I’m not singing for br anyone any more, I won’t br sing tonight…br br Margaret Alicebr br