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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Congratulations!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jacobson, Shawn D via MD-Sligo<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 5, 2019 9:03 AM<br><b>To:</b> Jacobson Cheryl (cheryl.jacobson@siemens.com) <cheryl.jacobson@siemens.com>; Nan Ripley <nripley22@gmail.com>; falloutwest (falloutwest@comcast.net) <falloutwest@comcast.net>; Jacobson, Zebe <zjacobs@mdmercy.com>; srj1784@aol.com; Naomi Milliner <naomiwm@verizon.net>; 'Adeline Wilcox' <awilcox@iopener.net><br><b>Cc:</b> Jacobson, Shawn D <Shawn.D.Jacobson@hud.gov>; Schmehl, Richard L <Richard.L.Schmehl@hud.gov>; Cruickshank, James S <James.S.Cruickshank@hud.gov>; Warren, Derek M <Derek.M.Warren@hud.gov>; Lavoy, Donald J <Donald.J.Lavoy@hud.gov>; Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland (md-sligo@nfbnet.org) <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>; Willis, Eric <Gregory.Willis@hud.gov>; Mahmood, Tallat X <Tallat.X.Mahmood@hud.gov><br><b>Subject:</b> [Md-sligo] FW: Magnets and Ladders<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is nice to get this kind of news when you come into work in the morning.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Note, I have copied the poem in question at the bottom of the Email.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shawn<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:magnetsandladders@comcast.net">magnetsandladders@comcast.net</a> <<a href="mailto:magnetsandladders@comcast.net">magnetsandladders@comcast.net</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 04, 2019 8:46 PM<br><b>To:</b> Jacobson, Shawn D <<a href="mailto:Shawn.D.Jacobson@hud.gov">Shawn.D.Jacobson@hud.gov</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Magnets and Ladders<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Shawn,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations! Your poem, "Tumbleweed" is the First Place winner in the Magnets and Ladders Spring/Summer poetry contest. If you did not include your address with your submission, please send it so that you can receive your prize of $30.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your poems, “Okie” and “The Furloughed Knight” will also be published.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Magnets and Ladders team<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tumbleweed, poetry<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Borne upon the wind,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the flying bushes of the plains<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>sail across the road.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Heading out from Pueblo going east,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>we leave the mountain’s grandeur in our wake,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and enter upon plains with flat expanse,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>vast in reach, unbounded and so free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A wind arises from the howling north,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a sky of cloudless blue turns dusty brown.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hear the keening in the chilly air;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a storm is calling through the empty land.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And then I see a sight unique with wonder.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A drove of plants the size of steers arrives<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>sailing across the emptiness around us,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>flying over unencumbered land.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We flinch as these weeds cross the road ahead;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So sudden, collisions cannot be avoided.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They slam the car with slapping thudding sound,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>breaking themselves on our metallic helm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Through prairie towns our tumble weeded way<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>takes us in our eastward journey home:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>La Junta, Lamar, Garden and Dodge cities,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and smaller towns swallowed by emptiness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In time we’ll leave this empty widespread realm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and eastward find familiar fenced-in land<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of cities reaching skyward in their might,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and bid nature around it mind her place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But memory of this forgotten space<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will linger as we contemplate the sight<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of dusty skies that tell of distant storms<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and plants that sail through, empty prairie skys.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Over unfenced land<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Flying bushes travel free<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>across memory.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>