I, memory,
I, a membrane and ghost
meronym to memory
and free—
I am the thorn
of flowers in your mouth,
and the foot of the leaf
between the limbs of
a small tree halved
like quarters,
and still dying,
I, memory,
I, a membrane and ghost
meronym to memory
and free—
Ancestress of loss
of the root and tree
that tried to die.
© 2020 lucysworks.com All Rights Reserved.
I wrote this for the dverse prompt: “We are writing to the First Person Narrative, using “I am” as part of our poem. The voice, and the specific point of view is you, the poet.”
I am not quite sure what I thought of when writing this. I always like to reference in some form or another an ideology of grief, nature and change. For this poem, perhaps being freed of oneself truly constitutes who they now are.
I would classify this as a stream of consciousness as well. I do hope you enjoyed the read. Thank you!
This is very good.
“I, memory,
I, a membrane and ghost”
That is so good!
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Aww, thank you! So glad you enjoyed the read. ❤
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I did. I enjoy reading your work, you’re quite talented.
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❤ ❤ ❤
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‘I am the thorn
of flowers in your mouth,’
Loved that line!
Use of imagery in this one is fabulous!
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Thank you so much!
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I dig stream-of-consciousness poetics; they take you to unexpected places, and poke you while hugging you while thrilling you. This one is a sweet ride.
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They definitely do take you on a ride, and I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Thank you for your thoughts and I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!
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This is my fave pick, so Powerful–one of those “wish I’d written it” phrases: “I am the thorn
of flowers in your mouth” ❤
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Aww, I’m just smiling wide right now. No one has ever said that to me before, the “wish I’d written it” phrase. I have had a lot of those myself when reading poetry, and I am beyond humbled and flattered you had that reaction to mine. It truly warms my heart. Thank you for your lovely comments and feedback. ❤ ❤
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I’m happy to make your day, Lucy–and my comments are always 100% sincere! After rolling your poetic phrase in my mind for awhile, I was trying to figure out how I could tweak it just barely–to avoid “plagiarizing”!! 🙂 I just love it that much! But being an honorable woman/poet, you can be sure I wouldn’t steal someone’s creative work ❤
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Oh, wow, Rhen. I have no words. I thank you dearly for your lovely words and support.
Also, I have no problem with you using that line or tweaking it. You have my permission to use it, my friend, if that’s what you’d like. ❤
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Really??!! Wowza–I would give you FULL credit and add your link, if I come up with something worthy. You are very generous!! Thanks, and sending much love ❤
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oo. i like, particularly “the thorn of the flower in your mouth”
it reminds me of a verse from one of my fav poets Saul Williams,
in his verse “She”
The repetition works in this, like a chorus,
and i learned a new word, meronym…
i am always up for some math fun too,
so halved like quarters made me smile.
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So glad you enjoyed the poem, Brian. It’s an absolute honor to hear that from you!
I now have a poem to check out shortly. Will be reading that one soon.
Thank you so very much for your thoughts; I enjoyed reading them, and am as well glad you liked the imagery and repetition in this poem. It means a lot.
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She is actually a poem that takes up an entire book… So let me narrow it a bit for you…
“I presented
My feminine side
With flowers
She cut the stems
And placed them gently
Down my throat
And these tulips
Might soon eclipse
Your brightest hopes”
Really the whole poem is far ranging but all centered… So…
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Wow, that’s incredible and thank you for posting some of it for me. I will definitely check out the poem book.
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For me too, this breathes freedom.
I admire the outcome of your stream of consciousness writing. This is my favorite part because of its symbolism:
I am the thorn
of flowers in your mouth,
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Thank you, thank you so much. I am also glad you agree on the theme of freedom. ❤ That’s what I thought about it too.
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So much said here:
“Ancestress of loss
of the root and tree
that tried to die.”
Makes me want to know more.
Deep!
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Thank you so much!
I’d be more than happy to clarify. Those lines are truly my favorite because of the aspect of freedom. I originally thought of something more evocative to loss, perhaps losing a part of yourself, but as the poem came together, it seemed more like losing the part that was holding you back, so you can have freedom. In personal freedom, to me, there are aspects of renewal and death (poetically and emotionally, I mean) that evolve the person over time. We become new people, we grow and try to become better and to not be held back, either by others or ourselves.
So glad you enjoyed the read, and thank you again for your lovely feedback.
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I love your clarification, thank you very much. You’re welcome, Lucy.
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“Ancestress of loss” – those closing lines are glorious.
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Thank you. ❤
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I ❤ the line “I am the thorn of flowers in your mouth”
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I’m so glad. It seems others would agree with you on that line! ❤️
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that is an example of me not reading any previous comments
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Hahaha! It’s fine. 😀
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inspired me enough to create a piece of art/poem to go with it 😉 scheduled for some time in October
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Oh, wow. I feel very honored. Please do let me know when it’s up. ❤️
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October 7th is when it will be posted:)
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I’m looking forward to seeing it then. 😀
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Beautifully written! And those lines my fav.. I am the thorn…. 💖
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Thank you so, so much. ❤
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This is so vivid, excellent work
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Thank you so much!
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this is indeed a universal stream of consciousness, so poetic, beautiful and profound, thanks Lucy ❤
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Aww, thank you so very much for your kind words. ❤ ❤
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my real pleasure!
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I find these two lines in your poem to be an intriguing concept, and is conjuring up a myriad interpretations
“I am the thorn
of flowers in your mouth,”
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I’m actually quite surprised many really like that line! That makes me happy. I thank you for your feedback and analysis as well, Ivor. Always appreciated.
I also had a few things in mind with that line. I thought of a simple red rose and the thorns; and how in its symbolism, one no longer needs to be held back by others. Hence, the thorns of a rose would slightly hurt when grasped.
It is subjective. My own interpretation may be similar or dissimilar, but honestly, it’s up to the reader to decide what it means to them. 🙂
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Yes … I like lines that are open ended….. that let’s the reader enjoy their own interpretation
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Wow I love this! “a membrane and ghost”
Beautiful 🌺
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Thank you! 😊
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You’re welcome ☺️
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I could feel the spirit part of the lightness of your being!
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I’m so glad! Thank you for reading. 🙂
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Beautiful…
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Thank you!
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You are welcome.
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kaykuala
A ‘stream of consciousness’ which can be disturbing when faced with such an onslaught. One can never win them all Lucy, yes!
Hank
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Thank you, Hank!
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A wonderful stream of consciousness poem, Lucy, and I agree that it addresses the idea of being free to be oneself in the now. I like how the poem builds up from ‘I, memory’ and ‘I, a membrane and ghost’, almost as if it is gaining momentum, running down a hill, picking up the thorny flowers, leaf and small tree on the way. I’m glad the tree didn’t die, even though it tried to.
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Thank you so much. I loved reading your analysis and thoughts!
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Hello there, I want to ask you if you really read my posts before you like then or if you just like them because they have a certain tag?
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No, I read them.
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Alright, thanks!
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I follow the poetry tag and I read writing that goes under there. Sometimes, I don’t check the blog out but in retrospect I probably should have.
There was no need to call me out as you said. You could have brought it up on one of my posts originally and I would have answered you. I was actually curious to what you were referring to so I decided to look at your blog.
“Just fuck off and question your life choices or something. Well, fake followers are also fucking annoying, but at least they only show up once when they follow and not every single fucking time I publish a new post…”
Give people a little more credit. Not everyone has the time all day to read everything you post. They might like a post because it seemed interesting at a glance and wanted to check it out entirely later. That is something I do at times.
None offense taken. I thought it was actually kind of hilarious because it’s just futile in some ways, even pointing this out. 😂 Some people do actually do that and what more can I say? Welcome to the blogosphere, my friend.
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I’m aware of that, not new to it 🤣 And I also know it’s futile, but since I don’t know who does what, I’ll just put it out there and hope those who do read it and feel that it’s wrong will tell me so! And to those who it really does apply to will go away 😂 Anyway, you seem cool!
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Yes, I agree with that.
Hahaha! Thank you. You seem pretty cool yourself.
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I would also appreciate if you could remove my name from your roast list then as well. Thanks!
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I wanted to ask you anyway, done!
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Actually, I take it back, I don’t think it’s futile at all! XD Because every action and intend does have an effect, whether you believe it or not.
Also,
“Give people a little more credit. Not everyone has the time all day to read everything you post. They might like a post because it seemed interesting at a glance and wanted to check it out entirely later. That is something I do at times.”
I don’t expect everyone to read all my posts all the time, I just want people to only like them if they’ve really read them! That’s why I also don’t really like this fucking system, because yes, sometimes people just like them to save them to read them later, but I think it would be better if WordPress had something like a bookmark option for that XD. For the rest, I’d like to remove the fucking like button and force people to comment if they care enough lol. Not possible on WP.com yet, but maybe in the future XD
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I’m the same! I usually follow all that seems interesting but don’t have time to read every blog. I usually set time aside a few days a week and go down my reader list of who I follow and read most posts there! I read most conversations as well and try to engage in someway. We got to support each other and lift each other up.
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An evocative write with some memorable phrases. I went to the dictionary for definition of meronym! I love to find new words!
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Thank you!
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I’m in awe of such writing. Truly sublimely executed
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Thank you so, so much. ❤️
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There’s always that thorn, isn’t there? A nagging thought, or the unexpected and truly unwished-for.
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Yes, there is.
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Yes!! My thoughts as well
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I know where you got meronym from, Lucy! I’ve caught you!
I’m jesting. If I’m the origin of your knowledge of the word, I’m happy to be. It’s such a pretty word with such an acute meaning, I find. There’s a plethora of linguistics terms I learn in University and would like to use.
Regardless, I’m a big fan on this one, but unlike most, I care not for the thorns. The “membrane and ghost, meronym to memory,” really summons that amarulence of being but an echo to oneself. I’m familiar with the feeling, and I think you’ve built around it with great poise.
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Ah, you caught me! I found it an interesting word and thought with the flow of memory and meronym, it would be rhythmic; and I’m always in need to expand my vocabulary anyway. I thank you for it! 😀
I’m with you on that line. I do like the thorn line I wrote, sure, but the beginning lines are just evocative to me, especially with feeling like a ghost or an echo. Or being in an echo chamber, something to that effect.
Anyway, thank you for your lovely comments. I always enjoy reading them and discussing.
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I thought this was very special Lucy. It really made me think. I particularly loved these lines “I am the thorn of flowers in your mouth,” ☺️💕
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Thank you so much! ❤
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Uncapturable, I’d say.(K)
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❤
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Poets — OK, all creators — have to somehow identify and distance from the I which takes such jealous possession of everything the name is ascribed to, when in essence it’s only human nature talking back to a nature which is sometimes human. This seems like a conversation with the Jimenez poem Grace used in her prompt — an old fave of mine — locating here the I in a ghost land of memory so faintly “mine” that it’s hard to say just who is speaking here — a trope, a love or a tree. The meronym “I” partakes of all. The fun part is the dance … loved it … Brendan
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Thank you for your thoughts! I enjoyed reading them. With this poem, I was writing from the standpoint of memory, not exactly an object (how I align it with my personal interpretation; poetry is always subjective to the reader). The tree, nature, represents what tried to be buried or left behind, but ultimately persevered. The gain is now freedom, either from oneself or another.
So glad you enjoyed this, Brendan. That makes me very happy to hear! Thank you again for your feedback.
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wow – what an mazing read
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Thank you. ❤
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My absolute favorite 💕
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❤ ❤
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I heard wherever you go,
There you are,
True of place
Perhaps, but when
Sun moved the shadows
I looked around
And I was gone,
Not sure if I
Changed or if I had just
Traveled too far.
Love this tribute to memory, a membrane, a ghost, never living fully with us, biased by present circumstance and need,
circling,
until it
diminishes
or is freed.
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Such a beautiful poem, Lona. Very intriguing wisdom and thoughts.
I’m glad you can resonate with my piece too. 😀
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:: it was such a nice time bending shape shifting piece you gave us.
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💕
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Absolutely amazing alliteration, wordings, spacing and imagery here. Very beautiful and deep. 💛
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Thank you, Lia. 😊💕
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There are so many good lines and it is so difficult to pick one!! Amazing work!!
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Aww, thank you. That brings a smile to my face to hear that. So glad you enjoyed this piece.
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It is indeed pleasure! Keep writing and sharing!!🤗🤗
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💗
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[…] Check out Matt’s piece, inspired by one of the lines in my poem, “I“. […]
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you’ve written some really fantastic poems
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Thank you!
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🖤….i read this over and over🌌🌌🌌🌌💫
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❤ ❤
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“Ancestress of loss
of the root and tree
that tried to die.”
These lines speak to hope and rebirth. Life is not entirely about what has happened but sometimes the aftermath of events.
Kudos, Lucy 👍
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Thank you. 😊
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i did enjoy. i found it quite unusual, condensed and profound. lovely work.
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Thank you. 😊
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you’re very welcome x. i like the honesty in your writing ✍🏼 x
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OMG, this is BEAUTIFUL…. ❤️❤️
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Thank you so, so much!
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Love the rhythm and subtle rhyme in this!
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Thank you so much!
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This was beautiful
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Thank you very much. 😀
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A marvellous piece, indeed.
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Thank you so much!
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My pleasure:)
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❤
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Wow, I’m so glad to have found your blog. Really exceptional use of words, instantly turned into one of my favourites. Loved every word of it ❤❤
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Oh wow, thank you so much!
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You’re most welcome!
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❤️
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I came by to see what else I might find here, since you’ve blown my mind twice already. This:
I, memory,
I, a membrane and ghost
meronym to memory
and free—
is just some fine writing. Plus, now I know what “meronym” means. Weirdly, I just posted a poem yesterday about “Membrane Boy.” Synchronicity? Curiouser and curiouser, I say.
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Aww, thank you so much. ❤
And wow, I would definitely say that is some type of synchronicity.
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