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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hey NFB Family and Friends, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please read below the text of the poems recited at our May 1<sup>st</sup> Board Meeting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Tracy Soforenko, President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To celebrate the diversity of our members, we encourage different voices, faiths, and perspectives to share an invocation at our meetings. At our May 1 meeting, Natasha Hubbard recited 2 original poems that she is sharing with our members. Please see below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Natasha Hubbard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:butterfly.m.enterprises@gmail.com">butterfly.m.enterprises@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As requested at the May 1, 2021 NFB of Virginia Board of Directors meeting, I have provided the text of my poems presented during the invocation . <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Please note, I write under the pen name of Butterfly Thomas:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Here is the text of the poems “May Day” and “No Vision Part 2”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>If you are interested in more information or to purchase some of my published work, please email me at the address provided above.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>May Day <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One day in May, a man was killed unjustly<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Two Years prior, his mother died, but he called for her anyway<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Three blinks is all it took for <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Four officers to act as judge, jury and executioner <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Five children grieve for their father<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Six years old the youngest, traumatized<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Seven weeks of protests to scream our anger, frustration… our pain because it only took<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Eight minutes to extinguish another black life, and then you walked away <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>unscathed…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Just another day… <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In May<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Butterfly<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can find this poem and others in the book entitled The Butterfly Effect a Poetic Call to Action in print or E-book <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>No Vision (part 2)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I resent low expectations spurred by misconceptions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may not know my capabilities, but spare me the half-hearted suggestions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I recommend you read up and gather more information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Before you prejudge, back up the claims you’re making <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please realize that everyone is different, that’s true<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But, does difference mean inability to you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You’d react adversely if your qualifications were dismissed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yet from us you expect docile acceptance<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I represent many and have thousands behind me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>That are ready to go to the wall if you deny me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’ll remind you of the law before you make your decision<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope it’s clear which one of us has no vision<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I reclaim my independence, my integrity, my dignity<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am me, not defined by disability<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Butterfly<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can find Part 1 of this poem and other observations in the book entitled In My Feelings. s<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><br>Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<br><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>tel:(757)291-1789</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia<br>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>