to survive the storms that come br within us raging br outside this body is the calm and quiet br people simply do not know br what is happening & br they do not ask simple because br they have no right to invade the fences of our privacy br we wear many faces br some many pretenses br masks br and when we are alone facing the mirror br we take everything br and see that innermost face br the last layer br that tells us the truth of our existence br and then we begin br that talk: that honest conversation br without any taint br or blame br only that gentility of the spirit br that forgiving arm br embracing br a shoulder because it is cold and br the feeling br is shattered.br br RIC S.