Saturday Night in the Parthenon
Tiny green birds skate over the surface of the room.
A naked girl prepares a basin with steaming water,
And in the corner away from the hearth, the red wheels
Of an up-ended chariot slowly turn.
After a long moment, the door to the other world opens
And the golden figure of a man appears. He stands
Ruddy as a salmon beside the niche where are kept
The keepsakes of the Prince of Earth; then sadly, drawing
A hammer out of his side, he advances to an oaken desk,
And being careful to strike in exact fury, pounds it to bits.
Another woman has by now taken her station
Beside the bubbling tub.
Her legs are covered with a silken blue fur,
Which in places above the knees
Grows to the thickness of a lion's mane.
The upper sphere of her chest
Is gathered into huge creases by two jeweled pins.
Transparent little boots reveal toes
Which an angel could want.
Beneath her on the floor a beautiful cinnamon cat
Plays with a bunch of yellow grapes, running
Its paws in and out like a boy being a silly king.
Her voice is round and white as she says:
'Your bath is ready, darling. Don't wait too long.'
But he has already drawn away to the window
And through its circular opening looks,
As a man into the pages of his death.
'Terrible horsemen are setting fire to the earth.
Houses are burning ... the people fly before
The red spears of a speckled madness . . .'
'Please, dear,' interrupts the original woman,
'We cannot help them ... Under the cancerous foot
Of their hatred, they were born to perish -
Like beasts in a well of spiders ...
Come now, sweet; the water will get cold.'
A little wagon pulled by foxes lowers from the ceiling.
Three men are seated on its cushions which breathe
Like purple breasts. The head of one is tipped
To the right, where on a bed of snails, a radiant child
Is crowing sleepily; the heads of the other two are turned
Upward, as though in contemplation
Of an authority which is not easily apprehended.
Yet they act as one, lifting the baby from its rosy perch,
And depositing it gently in the tub.
The water hisses over its scream ... a faint smell
Of horror floats up. Then the three withdraw
With their hapless burden, and the tinny bark
Of the foxes dies on the air.
'It hasn't grown cold yet,' the golden figure says,
And he strokes the belly of the second woman,
Running his hands over her fur like someone asleep.
They lie together under the shadow of a giant crab
Which polishes its thousand vises beside the fire.
Farther back, nearly obscured by kettles and chairs,
A second landscape can be seen; then a third, fourth,
Fifth ... until the whole, fluted like a rose,
And webbed in a miraculous workmanship,
Ascends unto the seven thrones
Where Tomorrow sits.
Slowly advancing down these shifting levels,
The white Queen of Heaven approaches.
Stars glitter in her hair. A tree grows
Out of her side, and gazing through the foliage
The eyes of the Beautiful gleam - 'Hurry, darling,'
The first woman calls. 'The water is getting cold.'
But he does not hear.
The hilt of the knife is carved like a scepter
And like a scepter gently sways
Above his mutilated throat ...
Smiling like a fashionable hat, the furry girl
Walks quickly to the tub, and throwing off
Her stained gown, eels into the water.
The other watches her sorrowfully; then,
Without haste, as one would strangle an owl,
She flicks the wheel of the chariot - around
Which the black world bends ...
without thrones or gates, without faith,
warmth or light for any of its creatures;
where even the children go mad - and
As though unwound on a scroll, the picture
Of Everyman's murder winks back at God.
Farther away now, nearly hidden by the human,
Another landscape can be seen ...
And the wan, smiling Queen of Heaven appears
For a moment on the balconies of my chosen sleep.
poem by Kenneth Patchen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Water Chariot
Sky lies inside the Sky
Welkin lies inside the welkin
Carried away by
Water Chariot
Sun lies inside the sun
Moon lies inside the moon
Carried away by
Water chariot
Mountain lies inside the mountain
Hill lies inside the hill
Carried away by
Water chariot
Womb lies inside the womb
Life lies inside the life
Carried away by
Water chariot
Green inside the green
Breath lies inside the breath
Carried away by
Water chariot
Shore filled and slept,
To him
Water chariot
Like this…
Ascent the water chariot
Passing with elegance
Unattainable sun
Smiling moon
Chattering stars…
Grown Hill, Frazzle Rock
Planted Trees, Blossom Flowers
Adoring bees…
Radiant dhub grass
Young male-female
Grown-up, languish, perished
Dread umbrage vanished
Delighted milestone
Passed, this Water chariot
Sally pleasure trip …
This Life’s chorus
Rotating carnival
Even for Midge
Its own share…
This way…
Ascent the water chariot
Pass with Splendor.
poem by Kavitha Rai
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There Once Was A Tiny Girl
there once
was a tiny girl
who grew up
in this world
there once
was a tiny girl
who cried herself to sleep
every night
there once
was a tiny girl
who wore the same dress
every day
there once
was a tiny girl
who wouldn't go out
and play
there once
was a tiny girl
who would bleed and have bruises
from head to toe
there once
was a tiny girl
who begged
daddy, please no more
there once
was a tiny girl
who the angels
heard her prayer
they came down
and took her
to a better place
where that tiny girl
found love
instead of hate
by: crystal sonier
age: 15
poem by Natalia Anna Joelie
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Corner Of My Mind
I can see a man
Walk away and bend his head
He won't turn around
And there is her mom
Lookin' desperate and sad
And night is slowly fallin' down
In a corner of my mind
I can feel the time rewind
A little girl who stands there cryin'
Her little hopes are dying
In a corner of my mind
Are the tears i left behind
Just memories of a stolen heaven
Gone away forever
Lots of dreams that once were mine
I can always find
In a corner of my mind
And that little girl
In a ragged yellow skirt
She looks very scared
Hears her mother say
Girl - don't wanna see you hurt
He's gone - but he will always care
In a corner of my mind ...
song performed by by Vanilla Ninja
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Duck Pond
There's a pond at the centre of the village green,
Where ducks, moorhen and coot can be seen.
It's a feature which adds to the character and charm.
When sat by the pond, you feel a real sense of calm.
Pond-skaters and other small insects on the water skate:
The surface tension supporting their miniscule weight.
Waving their heads, the long, lush, green reeds,
Provide partial shelter for a fish as it feeds.
A frog pops its head up and looks around,
Then slips back under the water with a plopping sound.
Darting this way and that, are beautiful blue dragonflies:
Their motion so quick, they're gone in the blink of an eye.
There's sweet gallingale, marsh marigold and watercress,
But, for me, the pretty pink water lilies are by far the best.
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Bounce (yeah)
Rock, skate (yeah)
Roll, bounce
Rock, skate (ha)
Roll, bounce
It? s friday, I had to work all week
Keep the cool hip, school, gettin as and bs
Cuz if I came home with an f or a d
My mama woulda tripped about the skatin rink
But since I got that under control
Daddy said its cool, get his spark on
So I picked up the phone and called rico
I told him Id be at the rink for sure
Around 8 oclock, they began playin the grooves
That me and you like to bounce to
We rollin man, on skates for sure
A gang of homies in the corner on the dance floor
Got the skate police always on patrol
Tryin to catch you outta bunker if you gettin too close
To the girl that you groovin with
No stoppin on the floor, keep moving it
To wearing straps to my feet, criss-cross to the beat
And all the people tryin to peep the styles of the d
Cuz Im rollin, just havin a ball
No time to laugh when somebody falls
Straight bouncin
Bounce (just see), rock, skate (everbody skatin on the floor)
Roll, bounce (come on, come on)
Rock, skate (rollin, rollin, rollin)
Roll, bounce
Now its 10 oclock and the music stops
And it comes back on with a slow song
The announcer says, couples only
And then all I see is cuties rushing at me
So I chose the one that I knew could roll
Not one steady fumble on the skatin floor
Follow what the joe shootin pass me like the wind
When darnell fallin down and back up again
And bysides from the club to the video game
Playin mortal kombat, tryin to arrest the thing
To the snack bar, munch, get my drink and change
Rested up, now Im back on my wheels again
Straight bouncin
Baby d is bringin out the fine young breeds
Parties jumpin, v.i.p.
We off the heez (we off the heez)
Roller skate is one in front and one be-hind
Everybody, grab your partner, form a line
And get
Bounce, rock, skate (yeah)
Roll, bounce
And you know theres 30 minutes left
Im on my second wind and I done caught my breath
Im on to the djs booth to request a song
Baby ds on the rise, now Im up and gone
As I look to my side, I see my daddy
So smooth on the wheels like a caddy
With his afro lit it in diamonds is butch
And then i, switchin lanes at a fast pace
Losin all the slow rollers up on my way
So I can find that girl and all her friends
So we can hook next week and come do it again
Out here gettin excite, the ga way
But I learned how to skate in the golden state
Straight rollin
So everybody keep bouncin
So everybody keep bouncin
So everybody keep bouncin
Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce
Bounce (yes, youre bouncin), rock, skate
(you want to skate, yeah)
Roll (yes you do), bounce
Now everybody get your bounce on
Dan moore get your roll on
Aaron get your skate on
Britney get your bounce on
Sir will get your roll on
Ingis get your skate on
Lil james get your bounce on
Big e new x lex board
Daddy get your roll on
Big banks get your skate on
Short dogg get your bounce on
Joey get your roll on
To end
Bounce, rock, skate,roll
And everybody in oakland get your bounce on
La get your roll on
Atlanta get your skate on
Chi-town get your bounce on
New york get your roll on
Houston get your skate on
Dallas get your bounce on
Portland get your roll on
Va get your skate on
Denver get your bounce on
Vegas get your roll on
Detroit get your skate on
Miami get your bounce on
Everybody everywhere get your bounce on
Get your bounce on, get your bounce on
song performed by by Imajin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tiny Drop
Waste of Tiny, Tiny Water Drops.
Always Trigger my Conscious Thoughts.
A Tiny Water Drop can make a Sapling Laugh
Tiny, Tiny water Drops can get you sweet Pod.
Tiny, Tiny Water Drops can make a Plant to Stand
As a Tree, This can give Shelter to a Lot.
Because of Waste of Tiny, Tiny water Drops
Many lives have become short.
So try to save even tiny water Drop, Which will
Get you Heartily Laugh.
poem by Narendra Kuppan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Yacht Dance
(andy partridge)
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
That would pull us down to the depths and crush us flat if given half a chance.
No need to look back to pictures of lost, when all was rust.
We, we will skim across the surface of the mud as if were spinning pebbles
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
Made of people stained with scorn who never see the light of real love.
No need to look back through diaries of lost now turned to dust.
We, we will skate across the surface of the storm as if were wheeling sea-birds.
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
And how theyll be jealous of both of us!
In our yacht dance.
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
That would pull us down to the depths and crush us flat if given half a chance.
No need to look back to pictures of lost, when all was rust.
We, we will skim across the surface of the mud as if were spinning pebbles
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Water Never Has To Work
Water never has to work
He runs as he pleases
Pours on under winter ice
when his surface freezes
Merrily over rocks he goes
rocks on which others smash
Joyfully over waterfalls flows
Falls on which others crash.
Through granite faced gorges
None can hope to climb
Through different countries
no passport need he find
and when he reaches the salty sea
He's lifted up by the Sun.
Water through life easily floats
but bears several ton barges and boats
Water detached from every home
but shelters homeless
birds as he roams.
Water never strains nor worries
but empowers great water wheels.
Water has no duties but quenches
millions' thirst upon his banks.
poem by Saiom Shriver
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
A tiny brown triangle on the finger tip
Promises to explore distant lands on a trip
Lying back slowly to relax and be easy
Drinking clear fluids not to feel queasy
Warm waters rush from my toes to my head
Translucent images surface slowly from ahead
Beautiful crystals dance to Rock & Roll tunes
While the stars twinkle on early afternoons
A kaleidoscopic mirage is born from the light
While words spoken in whispers calmly excite
Snowflakes of feathers are refreshing in July
A dragon is crowned visiting from Shanghai
Strawberries become mountains to explore
A room without doors I'm trying to ignore
From the corner the North Wind is blowing
Green marbles in a vase are brightly glowing
Seductive rivers displaying waves in pastel
Raining on the angel of truth casting a spell
Reminiscing about a time that seems long gone
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was the song
poem by Kristina Louisa Carr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Landscape 28 Meniscus
The molecules of water are held together
By weak electrical forces
That extend in all directions.
At the water surface, the upward forces,
Having nowhere watery to go,
Lie along the surface
To form a thin skin, called a meniscus.
This is the skin that holds water drops,
Supports water striders,
Even skips stones.
I came once to an Adirondack Lake
On a still moonlit night.
The lake seemed full of fireflies,
Flashes of light in the water
As far as the eye could see.
I finally discovered the source of the light,
The sudden movements of water striders
Riding the meniscus
Bent the water surface
Into a curved mirror
That reflected glimmers of moonlight.
The Japanese make a flower arrangement
In a vessel with a perfectly level rim.
The vessel is filled with water
To a level above the rim
The water is held from overflowing
By a curved meniscus
That bends light like a lens.
In the center of the water
Floats a single perfect flower
That sends tiny ripples across the water surface
And crinkles the meniscus
When the vessel is vibrated.
poem by Stewart McKenzie
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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As The Lord Is Ensconced In His Chariot…
o, lord
let thy trundling wheels
crush this ego ridden
chariot of empty bones
of shallow dreams
of lecherous lust
***
o, jagannadh
this bag of flesh
sags under the weight
of uncommon greed
***
squash this clay mould
of imperfection
you moulded more out of habit
in a fleeting
wink of disinterestedness
***
this mould created
to amuse yourself
is entrapped
in the snarl of desire
this vacant structure
is forever fixed in
the net of illusions
this shallow chariot
time and again deviates
from its course…
***
o, lord
pound this particle
under your divine wheels
as your mighty chariot
rolls along the sandy bay
***
redeem it from
all these and more…
25jun2009
03
poem by Indira Babbellapati
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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River
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And signing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
Well she tried hard to help me
You know, she put me at ease
And she loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Well It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace
God I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
song performed by by Barry Manilow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wheels Of Love
(marjy plant)
The wheels of love turn around and around
Keep on rollin til youve found
The perfect partner, somebody just right
To have and hold every day and every night
So shes halfway to texas with all of your dreams
The world aint as bad as what it might seem
You got a whole lot of living, honey, left to do
Theres still a whole lot of love inside of you
The wheels of love turn around and around
Theyll take you for a ride like a merry-go-round
Dont let the heartache hold you down
When theres plenty of love to left be found
On the wheels, ridin on the wheels of love
Catch you a ride, imagine what you might find
Just the right girl at just the right time
Ready and waiting, shell look you in the eyes
Ah, but the wheels of love will never compromise
So she broke your heart, honey dont look back
You got to keep on rollin down the track
And maybe the next time youll keep your feet on the ground
When the wheels of love spin you around
The wheels of love turn around and around
Theyll take you for a ride like a merry-go-round
Dont let the heartache hold you down
When theres plenty of love left to be found
On the wheels, ridin on the wheels of love
The wheels of love turn around and around
Theyll take you for a ride like a merry-go-round
Dont let the heartache hold you down
When theres plenty of love left to be found
On the wheels, ridin on the wheels of love
Oh, the wheels
Ridin on the wheels of love
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coke
Says she's got another life
That I am living in my friend
Through and through she says
It's nothing I can change
I always was the one
The celebration ends without a sound
And the friends they're not around
And you find you're all alone
Talking to yourself again
You promised it's the end
Just one night you'll be fine
Cause in the end the dreams you dream
Are all you ever were
Says she's got another life
That I am living in my friend
Through and through she says
It's nothing I can change
I always was the one
And she'll say
Come on I'd like to buy the world a coke
And lie here naked with my girl
Come on I'd like to buy the world a coke
And lie here naked with my girl
The lights dim once again someday I'll sleep
Cause it's all the same to me
This tiny voice inside my head keeps me awake
Come on let's find the cure
Come on let's die until we live
In the end you'll find how high you climbed
There's no design to ever bring you down
Says she's got another life
That I am living in my friend
Through and through she says
It's nothing I can change
I always was the one
And I'll say
Come on I'd like to buy the world a coke
And lie here naked with my girl
Come on I'd like to buy the world a coke
And lie here naked with my girl
And she knows
I gotta buy the world a coke
I gotta buy the world a coke
And lie here naked with my girl
And she knows
song performed by by Flickerstick from Welcoming Home The Astronauts
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Valentine's Day
Oh! I wish I were a tiny browny bird from out the south,
Settled among the alder-holts, and twittering by the stream;
I would put my tiny tail down, and put up my tiny mouth,
And sing my tiny life away in one melodious dream.
I would sing about the blossoms, and the sunshine and the sky,
And the tiny wife I mean to have in such a cosy nest;
And if some one came and shot me dead, why then I could but die,
With my tiny life and tiny song just ended at their best.
poem by Charles Kingsley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Song Of Spring
The Spring comes slowly up this way,
Slowly, slowly,
Under a snood of hodden grey.
The black and white for her array,
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up this way.
Where is her green that was so gay?
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up this way.
Unto a world too sick for May,
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up this way.
Where are the lads that used to play?
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up this way.
She has no heart for holiday,
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up this way.
The trees are out in Heaven they say.
Slowly, slowly,
The Spring comes slowly up our way.
poem by Katharine Tynan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Crooked Ways Of The Tiny Birds
feelings are sometimes like the tiny birds
of summer feeding on a few grains
on the wide yards of the garden where the grasses
spread far
some feels being smothered by the indifference of other
tiny birds
separated by the distance of the long lines of
parallel electric poles
imagine the image of tiny birds sitting in there
looking for pecking
one notices the vastness of the sky
the unfinished climb of the hill
the vanishing paths of trails long untrue
feelings like tiny birds fly away
but there is no reason to be afraid on the
facts of nonreciprocating birds
ah, the world is wide and too interesting
to be ignored
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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River
It's coming on christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Now it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm gonna make a lot of money
And I'm gonna quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long I would
Teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
She tried hard to help me
She put me at ease
And she loved me so naughty she made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish, I'm sad
I've gone and lost the best baby that I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh I wish I had a river so long I would
Teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
song performed by by Travis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cleansed Heart
as we mellow
down into a gracious
ripening
gentle now in our
mature
dispositions
we say we know
what passions are
surges of overflowing
water
tsunamis of our
youthful days
we learn somehow
that we must guide
these
outbursts
in the winding labyrinths
of calmness
until it rests in
the basin
of rest
slowly
we touch each stormy
vein
gently pressing
like
a gradual
understanding
of that
healing
resolution
a moment indeed
which is now properly
illuminated
shadows gone
fears melting
inside the
newly cleansed
corner of
the heart
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Shadow-Child
Why do the wheels go whirring round,
Mother, mother?
Oh, mother, are they giants bound,
And will they growl forever?
Yes, fiery giants underground,
Daughter, little daughter,
Forever turn the wheels around,
And rumble-grumble ever.
Why do I pick the threads all day,
Mother, mother,
While sunshine children are at play?
And must I work forever?
Yes, shadow-child; the live-long day,
Daughter, little daughter,
Your hands must pick the threads away,
And feel the sunshine never.
Why do the birds sing in the sun,
Mother, mother,
If all day long I run and run,
Run with the wheels forever?
The birds may sing till day is done,
Daughter, little daughter,
But with the- wheels your feet must run—
Run with the wheels forever.
Why do I feel so tired each night,
Mother, mother?
The wheels are always buzzing bright;
Do they grow sleepy never?
Oh, baby thing, so soft and white,
Daughter, little daughter,
The big wheels grind us in their might,
And they will grind forever.
And is the white thread never spun,
Mother, mother?
And is the white cloth never done,
For you and me done never?
Oh yes, our thread will all be spun,
Daughter, little daughter,
When we lie down out in the sun,
And work no more forever.
And when will come that happy day,
Mother, mother?
Oh, shall we laugh and sing and play
Out in the sun forever?
Nay, shadow-child, we'll rest all day,
Daughter, little daughter,
Where green grass grows and roses gay,
There in the sun forever.
poem by Harriet Monroe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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