Sipra's Diary; Sunrise from Columbus circle, Manhattan.

Yesterday I took my morning walk while it was still half dark though it was 6:40.But while I crossed Time-Warner building, lots of people were coming out of the subway like flocks of busy bees. The owners  of fruits-shop and snack-bar on t he street were  very busy to serve the commuters. I was walking with lazy step but curious eyes.All these racing feet and rushing bodies generate vibration in me;vibration of life! The throb of city-life. It rejuvinates the past when I was  also a part of this phase of life, how crazily ran after golden deer! and now  simply an onlooker.
As usual I stood some moments facing to Central Park, Columbus Circle,CNN building,Duane-Reade ,the pharmacy  which supplies my prescribed  medicine, and at my back side the  marvellous crescent shaped Time Warner building with huge glass door bearing proudly the gorgeous images of branded Ad companies. The street in front of Columbus -Circle runs straight parallel to the central Park towards east and meets the horizon where a beautiful church  stands in the midst,as if, waiting to witness some auspicious event; yes auspicious event!

In summer, day breaks  even before 5:30; I used to wait for the sun to come up.At first the horizon behind the church and  the adjacent sky behind the dark trees of Central park becomes little clear with  fade red halo which becomes little darker that changes into  orange and spreads more space of horizon in each step; finally  turns into  golden yellow melted sheet, too dazzling to look at,  and the sun comes up the roof-top of the church; this play of colours  takes less than five minutes!
In a cloudy day the horizon is deprived of this play of multi-colour steps; it comes up late  with fade yellow sheet ,not from beneathe the horizon but above high in the sky, piercing the roaming cloud ! I always turn back for home before the sky turns  dazzling yellow. Coming near my apartment in the west, I greet the view of river Hudson......
But yesterday I didnt wait to greet the sun; I came back early as it was cold and windy.
At 11AM I switched on  TV and came to know about
the  explosive package of bomb by mail .Couple of hours ago the place which was vibrating with the throb of life is now thumping with fear and terror not only in the New york city but  it bangs everywhere,in every heart of the country.
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Sipra's Diary :Immerson Day Of DURGA -PUJA : [Fragment of Memoir]

The biggest festival of Bengal, 'Durga Puja' ended, leaving a feeling of nostalgia like every time. So many years passed by, still, the mind goes back to the childhood of Giridih, small but very much commercially rich mining town. Though I was not aware of it at that time. what I remember  was: five new clothes for five days,new shoes,new ribbon;...to pluck flowers at early morning  with friends for the neighbourhood puja;... taking bath at early morning ,doing small works in the pandal like making garland, distributing flowers to the devotees,giving 'Anjali';beat of dhak accompanied with 'kasar-ghanta',.. taking 'prasad 'repeatedly in the queue until being caught  and chased mockingly, by someone; then freedom to stay outside in the pandal for long hours! The puja pandal was just opposite to our house. Then three-four hours break at lunchtime, waiting impatiently for the evening to go again in the pandel, wearing a new dress for more fun. In the evening during Aarati time, all ladies used to throng in the pandal; the whole atmosphere seemed to be celestial with the smell of dhup-dhuna, beat of dhak and kasarghanta at least 30 to 40 minutes continuously. At the end of 'arati', we pushed each other to keep our palms over the 'panchpradip'(=divine lamp) for the blessing of the goddess and then touched on own head; and there was also a competition to keep palms over the lamps repeatedly;...as if, who can gather more blessings than the other. During Aarati I used to look my mother's face turning my neck; she looked so beautiful with bright vermillion red 'Bindi'on the forehead between two eyebrows and new sari. It was my great pleasure to see my mom enjoying any festival, away from the kitchen and home.
I passed different phases in the long passage of life as a wife, as a mother, a daughter-in-law; But all festivals drag me to the memory of childhood, parents, friends.
I feel my parent always stay with me like a shadow! Perhaps, I think, this is because my ID as 'daughter' is most strong in me.

There are no puja festivals in mid-Manhattan. But who bothers! 

I am fine with the trove of my memory treasure ....Every morning after taking shower I switched on dhak beat, chanting mantras in 'youtube' from the day of 'Bodhan'(starting-day) to the last day of 'Bisarjan'(Immersion) in full volume to create festival environment in the lonely apartment; Looking at the immersion of the image on screen, I felt the similar  childhood nostalgia,-- in Manhattan!

After the immersion, we used to come back in the empty pandal with missing hearts to get 'shantijal' which the priest sprinkled over our head' for peace and blessing of the goddess. The vacant alter without the image in deserted pandal stood only to spread over gloomy air of hollowness.......
The image of clay melted in water after the immersion long ago; but not my memory; it still lingers.........

"# me too"....................".me too#" !from URMILA

Political Drama  of Supreme court  Judge in 2018

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At last the most disgraceful drama in the political history of America 2018 ended, by the split-hair decision and by saving keenly the prestige and honor, the great  country deserves. But the stain it created must be “saved as” memorandum to avoid the repetition of such heinous instances in future.
...It has to be remembered that this is only a short term personal 'win' for Kavanaugh, that has no power to remove his stain on character  or career in the near future. This may be harmful for mid-term elction/next term election. Because the majority of furious people of the country stand against the government's decision on the 'nomination issue. The political atmosphere is stirred up so vehemently making the water too muddy to reflect any transparent image or affirmative vision....

   So the only  first part of 'obstacle race' is over, while the rest is left in turbulent turmoil. What awaits for next step?

 For the long term lasting benefit, it would have been a better judgement if Kavanaugh refuses to accept the nomination of supreme court judge, with a good intention to unify the angry people that will  bring back the solidarity of the country; This self-sacrifice will  input an immense impact not only to him but to the ruling government and to the public. It is up to him to decide between the two options:: to catch the instant interest with a morbid future,  or to 'sacrifice' that for a greater cause in the long term! This is the opportunity for him to win trust and regards of a large fraction of people if not all. Maybe better chance is waiting!
In fact 'acceptance' means'confinement' for him to a nowhere-land of self efacement... Similar scandal case this country has in the past with the first black Supreme Court judge with ......... ..
 Though lack of evidence proved Kavanaugh innocent, the public did not accept it; like an eclipse, his extraordinary brilliance will remain shrouded throughout his career by some superstar; he and his activities will always be undervalued and judged indirectly through 'coloured lens'. 

 
In democracy people's demand shouldn't be neglected; because they are the kingmaker. For greater achievement, smaller sacrifice like 'resignation to the post' will be appreciated and beneficial for the future: Let the flood of contagious emotion settle down on the bedrock. Gap of time helps to heal up.
"If winter comes can spring be far behind?"

In this digital age, it is easy to fuel and spread political agitation like a prairie fire.  Lots of old "#me too" cases from various corner and cavern are crawling out. ( It must be remembered that this is a worldwide sensitive issue!)To ameliorate the negative effects on the environment, thoughtful strategies are needed to apply carefully before they gather feathers to become strong as a political movement like "Occupy WallStreet"," Arab spring" or "Intifada".  

                
So far America has an exemplary reputation for holding   democracy. So in such a country, a person who is nominated as a judge of Supreme Court is expected to be thorough check-up of eligibility, honesty and the question of character above any type of crimes before the nomination, so that no chance is left for such allegation. 

No doubt, democracy is the best form of government. But the pitfall of democracy lies in the backbone  which help to stand : election, vote, human rights…FREEDOM OF SPEECH….

Democracy originated first in Greece, constituted of small kingdoms, where the people and leaders both knew each other; where the people simply raised their hands in support of their favourite leaders.

Election based on the vote (which represent the wish of mass) is really complicated process in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual country like America; because neither people nor the leaders know one another directly; and no chance of that opportunity. People depend on social media who take the role of ‘mirror.’ (like  TV, Internet and I-PHONE); newspaper and the radio is now backdated. 'Mirrors'    may reflect perfectly as well as a distorted image :like the mirror we read in the fabled story

“mirror, mirror,…..”

It has been customary of the opponent party in democracy to manipulate and motivate the people against the ruling party, by taking advantage of any conflicting or debatable issue. They are prone to highlight faults rather than focusing or providing constructive ideas.

It is, of course, a healthy sign of democracy to keep the ruling party always under pressure of taking the right decision, and resisting to become autonomous.

But the weakest point is that the majority of people are politically ignorant and do not have the power to make own decision. They are still “Roman mob” commented by Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s drama. So the destiny of election stands on the volatile opinion of the so-called mob who are guided by emotion rather than reason.

The recent game of mud-throwing over the nomination of a judge in Supreme Court with such an allegation which was too weak to be established by evidence . It is unwarranted and ridiculous to be brought to the court of the hearing board.

Slandering the character has been the most undeserving tool since President Clinton’s reign, to assassin the political career of someone. It was a burning example of women's success against assault.

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The statistic says most of the women, especially as teenage, are sexually assaulted not only in job-sphere but also in the neighbourhood or at home; but the majority of them remain silent;  perhaps, throughout the life but they become more alert and self-protective.

In US, since the Clinton case, Monica Lewinsky paved the easy path of projecting her image as ‘demi-god of courage’ for some women who outcry with an allegation against the male who has name and fame in society. The purpose was not at all to bring change in society, to make it free and safe for all women; but exclusively for own cause[benefit]!
Who knew the name of Monica before the case? …Her biography, autobiography would be sold like hot cake at the cost of the scandal.

“Scandal” is an easy way of self-advertisement.
         

 Who knows what happened in a high school-party where all were in a juvenile orgy? That too was thirty-two years back? It is really hard to prove, even, if the allegation was true. It is not a case of murder, theft or fraud which trail throughout one’s life to be questioned for evidence and proofs at any phase of a life-time. But the old sexual harassment case, (whether true or false) is too fragile to be proved by producing evidence.

The term ‘trauma’ raises questions: Why the accuser or her family did not appeal to the juvenile court to get rid of trauma? Juvenile court gives nourishment and not a punishment to the under-age young.

Secondly, according to psychic pathology, the incident which pushed in a traumatic state is expected to retain the vivid memory: hence the failure of memory of the accuser proved the case of accused to be stronger than the accuser. It remained an enigma how did the accuser continue higher study and professional career in ‘traumatic state’ without any break?

Thirdly, What made the accuser to break her silence at the crucial moment after thirty -two years, just as the name for the nomination was announced? ……

Lack of presenting evidence aroused probability that the accused might have  been used as a tool to the “orchestrated conspiracy” against the nomination of Supreme Court judge, but without preparing enough strong groundwork. 

It is sad to think that the accuser was encouraged and supported as a victim to feed 'purpose' of motivated political interest, though the defeat was evident. Politics is a battlefield of diplomacy, not the churchyard of confession which stands on ‘belief’ system alone, instead of ‘evidence’ on which judgment of court stands’. And who knows the truth? ‘Truth’ is a big lie until it is detected.
      What is the remedy to overcome such situation?

Amendment of the constitution is not new in democracy.

The country needs some Amendments in the Constitution to deal with some current fiery issues that are creating problems in society.

In the past there had been 33 Amendments.  Some of the amendments related to women were: equal rights, women suffrage, divorce, abortion, seat reservation in job-sphere etc.
The constitution granted these rights to women as they were considered as weaker section of society. All these rights gave power and made women stronger day by day. Equal rights to get job in any field has given women financial freedom, which is great!

But is there any statistical research of the changes in society as a whole in sixty years since the proliferation of women power gained the right of divorce, abortion, using contraceptive peels, and feminist movement?

Has the ‘quality of life’ been improved and better than the traditional way of family life? By the quality of life’ I mean in terms of health (both mental and physical), nutrition, education, morality, especially relationship with family and community, peace and joy in mind?

 One remarkable change in American society is that rise of women power has made the male weak. Law of a country should be natural to both genders to keep the balance of power.  Like equilibrium theory in economics, power should be equal between male and female to maintain the balance in family and in society. The social or political market works much the same way as an economic market which tends potentially to an equilibrium system, but the lack of wisdom and vision of motivated politicians and the manipulated voters prevented reaching that desired point of equilibrium.

What achievements the American women contribute in society(other than financial affluence) after wallowing in feminine freedom for sixty years? During these sixty years how many Nobel laureates in arts or science have shown their excellence? Did it inspire or input patriotism/ or higher social values to the next generation? The shift from the paternal society brought some social vices such as 'live together', misuse of abortion, moral decay, degeneracy; the remedies which were introduced for welfare,in fact, damaged the foundation of American society due to undemocratic implementation of them.

        
                  MALE : AN ENDAGERED  SPECIE: 

 

  Now men have become weaker comparative to women. In fact, men are now endangered specie.They are on the way of decay. It is not surprising that within a decade the male will be represented by robots which have already been introduced in the market.As weaker entity, now it is time for men who need rights for the support and protection from government  to counter false allegation; there should be some changes in constitution regarding marriage and divorce law. Nightmare of divorce has made the marriage system weak and brought 'living together'; contraceptive peel induced to extra-marital relationship.These social vices spread  over rampantly after the feminine freedom since sixty years ago.

Men are afraid to marry in fear of divorce which brings disaster to them both mentally and materially. Women are affected less than men do;  though they suffer mentally but they gain materially by the support of law.

Male and female are two wings of a bird. If one wing becomes invalid ,the bird can niether fly nor walk to survive.  Last three four decades children  in America are brought up in the family where dominence of mother influence them more than the father.Under female influence son-child tended  to become timid and docile than the girl-child who imitated the image of mothers in themselves.They began to develop their personality from home which haunted them from nursery school to throughout academic life,career life and marital life. Biologically the son-child becomes male but psychologically, docile, following the father-figure at home, from childhood. May be it is one of the cause that number of gay people are rising up.

 This is not a good sign for any healthy society.

Why the women, (not only for model) use scanty dress to expose their body? Isn’t it provoking to opposite sex? Isn't undermining the women as a class? Is it right to support the view of "Feminine Mystique"s highest value that preached  the commitment for women is the fulfillment  for  their own femininity?

Why the women celebreties of popular 'Talk Shows' never point to that? What is femininiy? Is it a mass-hysteria, fomented by the man-hating fanatics?

It is an etenal truth that quintessential manifestation of women is in motherhood  and in making  a peaceful home, in spite of being involved  to whatever extend in the outer world. Moreover it is not to forget that men had great contribution to fight against government for achieving  many of the Women Rights. Without their help,women would have to put more effort and time to achieve desired goals.

 

  Did women ever thought to help or support male   in rightuousness, without  any gender-bias?

Lots of women are coming out with“#me too.May be very soon some new compulsory 'app' will be introduced in the market for both gender to detect life time sex-crimes  as evidences to record the truth.

Why do only women enjoy unlimited power of   'sexual allegation” and never, the opposite?

Is it for the male “ego”! Still 'saved'in custody? Then we-ll!

Before “#hash me too” booth  propped up in every street corner  like Starbuck coffee shop, the men with their still 'stampede  sedimental manhood', can protest as antidote,…me too##,”on the opposite corner!!

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Sipra's Diary: Under piles of failuresCommentry on Neo American Quilt

I wrote the poem titled "Neo-American Quilts",perhaps in 2013 in Austin.My friend ,Althea was (and  is) a member of quilt club. She told that quilt was not only her hobby but her joy, her meditation. One day She  took me to the guild show of quilt. There were more than 100  beautiful quilts on display. But none of them matched with my previously known concept of quilt.Before the civilization flourished,ancient people used bark of tree and hide of animals as clothes.When those became old and tattered, the ancient natives by cutting the  different torn pieces and pasting them like patches to reuse.But those quilts on display were made of fine fabric with sophisticated print. No prints represent any image of ancient art, way of life of ancient people or animal skin  in printed version. That impression nudged me to write this poem which i wished to give Althea as token of friendship, after copying  it fairly in a clean sheet ,which  never happened.
Before last week I noticed Academy of American Poets announced to submit poems for the contest. Deadline:30th September.I found the theme of poem suits well to the present time. So I tried to send it to the "contest" but did not find  their E-mail address.
Finally I deposited it in Google blog,my favourite treasury box, to share with other readers.

Sipra;s Diary: Intergenerational theater Program of DOROT

Today the final program with the  Summer Teens ended with the drama show. It was really exhilarating!

Different groups  took different stories from their chosen genre. In  each group there were four to five members, both seniors and young adults.  First step was picture study. The wall of the hall was
decorated  with multiple pictures.  Each of us were asked  to write down  the essence, theme and emotion of the picture according to our own view. E.G. emotion part, love hate,jealousy, greed,friendship, apartheid, enemity, kindness, cruelty etc,etc.
Next step was -a break; to leave the hall empty for ten to fifteen minutes.
After the break as we entered, we saw on each table  there was  a card on which just one of the emotions was written: like 'friendhip' or 'jealousy',love; we surveyed all the table and selected one table to sit as per to our choice. Now there were different type of stories-in-picture were displayed on the wall:ghost story, fun story, fable, epic mythological, historical, etc .Then we were told to  pick up any one of the story in consistence with the emotional instruction  of the card on table.
In the second round the old group broke up and new group was formed according to the  choice of  story based on theme and genre. It was like a great game of fun to dig out the creativity part of two generations and weave a harmonious story:Like connecting two different wires  from two sources and charging  battery to lit up light.These summer teens were between grade 9 to  grade12.
We got the famous story "Lion King"  on the  table.We needed  to build a seperate story on the basis of "Lion King".We,the combined group with the  teens sieved the emotios one by one and jotted down on paper: the emotional elements were  1.Jealousy, 2.greed,3. hatred, 4. rich and poor,5. nature in abundance with floura and fauna and also in scarecity causing famine, 6.leadership7.love and respect which are the foundations of  community, 8.finally, conflict between good and evil, war and peace.
Next step was the THEME of the story to be set on the pillars of emotions :love and hate , greed and jealousy etc.

Each of us began to say, 'well,you start,' 'no,no you'!In my group all were teens except me and another one. 

At first we started  stories based on conflict between land-lord and tenant; between two cousin brothers; between two  school-teams of school; but all the stories faced some blockage in midway without meeting end.

I was requested by teens to select some story from Mahabharata.But genre of Mahabharata is epic, quite different from the genre of our base-story...In the meantime the instructor announced 10 minutes left  for each team to submit the stories.

Immediately the plot of a fantastic idea based on similar theme flashed  in my mind. In a hurry we sketched the outline of a story imbibed with all those required emotions from the base story.To our surprise,out of chaos a completely new story proped up on the basis of 'Lion King'.

Then two of us were asked to write the script  for drama and bring it next day for rehearsal.The script written by me was selected;Time for each drama was limited from 3 to 5 minutes;characters-3/4 to maximum 5/6. All total six dramas of different genre were displayed .Niether the teens nor the seniors were professional. But our joint product was quite enthralling; the audience and we both enjoyed the program.

I have kept the script of the drama for future  to  display taking full time that needed at least  45 minutes and 14/15 characters.There were  also some other events  in the program and ended with health-hearty refreshments.

Sipra's Diary ;: Discussions on senior center.dated 10thhaugust.

Yesterday I  went to participate in discussion's group of senior center. The topic was  of my favourite subject :' language'.
 Q::The US Government has never declared an 'official' language.Should there be an official language?

The top three languages in the united states,are: English,Spanish and Chinese.There are more spanish speakers in the United states than in Spain.
When someone comes to this country,no matter the reason, shoud it be there 'number one priority' to learn English?
According to figures from the department of Homeland security,1.o2 million immigrants were granted permanent residence  in the US in 2014;In 2015  the number rose up to1.05.


            ** America,  a superpowerful democratic country in the world  has not yet declared   its own 'official Language' ?  It is hard to believe that the greatest land of diversity---  a multi-cultural, multi-lingual country  has no official language!
 A country means a Nation with its own Constitution ,  Parliament ,National flag ,  Central   bank,  own currency,  and legally approved 'official' language.

Most of the attendees have no clear idea what is meant by 'official'  language. I explained it because India went through long-time language -conflics as India is aso a multiligual country. In India, during the mughal reign 'pharsi' was established as court language ,replacing  the previous sanskrit -related language.During the British rule ,they introduced English  in place of 'pharsi. Now 'hindi'is designated as national language but English also remains parallaly because  Hindi  does not represent collective Indian culture. Hindi is like Greek for the people of south India.
Official  language is a language given a special 'legal status'  used within  government in particular country ,state or other jurisdiction .It is used within the judiciary,lagislature administration of  government  to maintain uniformity.
 But  regional languages ,tribal languages ,remained undisturbed  among people throughout  the time.

The top three languages in the United States ,are English(237.8 million);   Spanish  (40.5)  ,Chinese( including  Mandarin and  Cantonese)  3.4 million.
   .
In my opinion, English must be declared as  'national language' as it is evolved as de facto:maximum people speak in English; Otherwise it will become a hidrance to maintain  the uniformity of national standard  in education, administration, business,legal, judiciary etc.
 For example in our evertday life we can take road-map :if we need 2ft /4ft ft boards  to write only in english  for road direction , then for  four languages a huge board of 8ft /16ft boards are required to be used and   how many such boards are possible to set up every corner of the road? Moreover,besides the question of cost,  it will be very much confusing as well as disturbing  for DRIVING buses, cars, trucks through scanning of several languages. In airports stations or other public places spanish is already used  almost everywhere of US simultaneously with english.

 Russia, China, Japan France  follow their own national language, and not any second language in all public places though all these countries also have become global.
In India, state language and english both are painted on the board in all staions hospitals and public places.In north India many stations and public places are marked  by urdu language.
 In London Punjabis claimed to use their language in some  places for  their own convenience. Bangladesis use bengali script  (and no-english) for  the names of staions, shops, schools, clubs restaurents in some of their colonies  in London. It was so surprising for us to see native language in foreign land.
Since streams of immigrants are pouring in the basin of America continuously, political thinkers should take the issue seriously, before it causes tooth-ache. Like Spanish ,Mandarin, Russians and Urdu  all  languages  are flourishing in US.
 Each language is like gold mines and needs to keep alive But in a global society  like US how can it be conserved?
From the grass-root,  from the school.
    The school should start with three languages: english, spanish and state or native language as third language. I think it is a primary necessity to acknowledge 'English' as  official language.

Without  preliminary knowledge,nobody should get permission  to enter  US / Western countries. To avoid the future problem US can follow the steps of China or Russia in this matter. Lastly, English is   already recognised as an  International language. I am leaving the topic unfinished.   But  I wish to write more on this issue.
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Sipra's Diary: [Rep] Avocado-the -"Green-gold".

At the end of my everyday morning walk from two years back up to now, I used to enter Morton-William as finishing touch to pick up some bread or vegetable. I noticed avocado,  banana, and zucchini are very cheap compared to other items.3/4 and sometimes 5 avocados for $1.I did not like avocado until I tasted a sandwich with avocado spread with a pinch of salt and pepper in some Jewish Party.  It is popular as "butter fruit" in  Mexican locality It is also the backbone of the local economy known as "green-gold" in Mexico to fetch money by exporting in a foreign land, especially in the US. I learnt that it is good for health. Since then I used to buy it; good for breakfast, both as a spread on bread instead of butter or as smoothy.
I was surprised to notice the sudden rise in price: $3 for one avocado. I told my daughter, "see,  just as we started liking zucchini and avocado, their  price goes up."
I learnt avocados come mostly from Mexico and Colombia.  It had been cultivated in Mexico about 9000 years ago. Food magazines have made these items popular by propagating their food value so high that it became the fruit of global trade... As the demand goes up,price naturally rises...
But the story is something more. Avocados grow mainly in the volcanic rich soil of Michoacan state in Mexico. The high global demand for avocado has created a mafia group who plundered all avocados from the land of the farmers at night time. The farmers have to buy insurance to protect against the robberies which caused the prices to go up. Thus the mafia group now control the avocado business....
"Avocados are Nafta's(North American Free Trade Agreement) shining stars," said some economist.
... So the behavioural-psychology-cum-geo- economics etc. have been more complicated by the influence of the criminal bugs; high price is not due to a simple matter of the previously known theory of the demand-supply relationship of the see-saw.
  Every time I toss the idea whether should I buy or not as I  look at the price-tag of an avocado: a dark green, pear-shaped fruit, simple(but ugly and repulsive to look),  too, trails a  stained history!  though it is neither gold nor diamond nor drug, still.......
                      ' et too, avocado!'

You were fine so far,
In the lap of the volcanic father,
Throughout  more than a thousand years;
Sheltered  safely in shady leaves
And feeding the son of the soil.
Soon you will be invisible there,
As NAFTA blew your veil                                
In the open global market
To fill a global appetite.

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