....Ladies and Gentlemen? br Well, just one gentleman actually. br One particular gentleman, br as it happens. br br You! The one in the corner, br with dark hair and eyes, and br shoulders I have to stretch my arms br to their full span br to get around. br br Can I have your attention? br Please? br br I do not want an argument. br I do not want your sympathy. br I do not want your anger. br I do not want your derision. br I do not want your interpretation of events. br I do not want your mockery. br br I do not want your eyes to flicker to SKY T.V. br impatient with distraction. br I do not want your blame. br I don't even want your guilt. br br I want to feel that you have heard me; br not just what I say - br but all that I don't. br I want to feel that you connect with me, br somewhere in the middle of what I say, br and that you hear and understand. br br I want your acceptance. br I want to know that I am loved, br and that I still make you br catch your breath, br on the occassional first sight of me. br I want to know that you care enough br to contribute to the solution. br br I want to know that you value me, br every second of every day br and value me for me, br not this crazy, irrational being br you would have me believe I've become. br My intelligence, my essence, br makes me deep - br not shallow. br Would you have me shallow? br br To be heard, br to be understood, br to be acknowledged, br To be forgiven for irrationality; br mine and yours.