Meena's+Poetry+Project

** ﻿ ﻿ Meena's Poetry Project **
**"Did I Miss Anything?"** by Tom Wayman

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here we sat with our hands folded on our desks in silence, for the full two hours.

Everything. I gave an exam worth 40 percent of the grade for this term and assigned some reading due today on which I’m about to hand out a quiz worth 50 percent.

Nothing. None of the content of this course has value or meaning Take as many days off as you like: any activities we undertake as a class I assure you will not matter either to you or me <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">and are without purpose.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Everything. A few minutes after we began last time <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">or other heavenly being appeared <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">and revealed to us what each woman or man must do <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to attain divine wisdom in this life andthe hereafter <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is the last time the class will meet <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">before we disperse to bring the good news to all people <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">on earth.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Nothing. When you are not present <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">how could something significant occur?

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Everything. Contained in this classroom <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">is a microcosm of human experience <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">assembled for you to query and examine and ponder <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is not the only place such an opportunity has been <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">gathered.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">but it was one place.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">And you weren’t here. <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">inside. || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">everything and nothing at the same <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">time. ||
 * <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Look** || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Label** || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Decide** ||
 * <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">imagery || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">everything you need to know is hidden
 * <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lines 1, 4, 9, 15, 23, 25 || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">repetition || <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the person wasn't there and he missed

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"How Was School Today?"** by Meena Holland

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wonderful! Justin Bieber came and gave <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">us a concert! He brought Usher along with him. <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Then he asked me and my friends to record <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">a song him in a recording studio.

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Horrible! The entire school caught on fire <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">and we had to go to Africa and meet a <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">chinese person named Kang. He told us <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to go back home.

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wonderful! When we went outside, I got robbed <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">by a clown. Then he took me to the circus where <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">he worked at and I became an astronaut.

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Horrible! Our class chicken died and we <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">had a funeral. After that we went to Dairy <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Queen. They ran out of all their ice cream <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">except the chicken flavored one so we all <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">had to eat chicken flavored ice cream, which <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">only reminded us of our class chicken. :(

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wonderful! My best friend and I found a <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">unicorn named Phabio and we flew to his <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">house, made out of Lucky Charms, at <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the end of the rainbow.

<span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Horrible! I found out my teacher's were a <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">gang of robbers and that they were gonna <span style="color: #ff00f5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">rob the school! __

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Dreams"** by Langston Hughes

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Hold fast to dreams <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">for if dreams die <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">life is a broken-winged bird <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">that cannot fly. <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Hold fast to dreams <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">for when dreams go <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">life is a barren field <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">frozen with snow.

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Achieve them. || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">try to achieve them. || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Love"** by Meena Holland <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Hold tight to love <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">for if love dies <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">life is like broken glass <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">that you cannot fix. <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Hold tight to love <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">for when love goes <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">life is an empty plate <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">stored away in the cupboard.
 * <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Look** || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Label** || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Decide** ||
 * <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lines 6-8 || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">imagery || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Don't let your dreams go.
 * <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Keep your dreams and

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<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"The Microphone"** by Unknown <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">All eyes are on the microphone <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">//Pft, Bumpt, Bumpt, Ptf// <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The beatboxer makes a pulse <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">come through the speakers like //Whoosh!// <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Saliva drips from every ear <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Soon we hear... <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">//Budump! Boodoop! Budump! Boom Bap!!// <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">a sound is there. || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">what the microphone has to say. || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"The Singer"** by Meena Holland
 * <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Look** || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Label** || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Decide** ||
 * <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lines 2, 4, and 7 || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Italics || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to let the reader know when
 * <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">imagery || <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the audience is eager to hear

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">All eyes are on the singer <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">//Bump, Bam, Bam, Bump// <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The singer makes a pulse <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">come through the microphone like //Boom!// <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Saliva drips from every ear <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Soon we hear... <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">//La la loooo! Ba da da daaa!//

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<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"The Rose That Grew From Concrete"** by Tupac Shakur

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Did you hear about the rose that grew <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">from a crack in the concrete? <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Proving nature's law is wrong it <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">learned to walk without having feet. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">it learned to breathe fresh air. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Long live the rose that grew from concrete <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">when no one else ever cared.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">without anybodys help. || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">help to grow. You can grow <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">as a person all on your own. || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"The Light That Grew From Darkness"** by Meena Holland
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Look** || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Label** || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Decide** ||
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Line 6 || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">imagery || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">it learned to grow on its own
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">You don't need somebodys

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Have you ever heard of the light that grew <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">from a room full of darkness? <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Proving whoever thought that light <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">couldn't grow in darkness wrong. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">it learned to stand up to darkness. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Long live the light that grew from darkness <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">when no one else ever cared.

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<span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Personification Poem"** by Unknown

<span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">My report card smiled, <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">showing off straight A's. <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">My house no longer sang the Blues. <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It's great to have happy grades, <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">live in a neighborhood that is happy with you.

<span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">did things that a human <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">can do but the pbject can't <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">do in real life. || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">your environment is happy. || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"My Poem"** by Meena Holland
 * <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Look** || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Label** || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Decide** ||
 * <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lines 1 and 3 || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">personification || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the objects in the poem
 * <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">when you do good things,

<span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">My phone smiled, <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">showing off it's new features. <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">My house no longer mopes all day. <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It's great to have a happy phone, <span style="color: #13f693; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">live in a house that is happy like you.

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<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Magical Eraser"** by Shel Silverstein

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She wouldn't believe <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">this pencil has <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">a magical eraser. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She said i was a silly moo, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">she said i was a liar too, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">she dared me to prove that it was true, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">so what could i do- <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I erased her!

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">she did. || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to say, even if it sounds <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ridiculous. ||
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Look || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Label || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Decide ||
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lines 4, 5 and 6 || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">repetition || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to emphasize what
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">trust what someone has

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Magical Pencil"** by Meena Holland

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He wouldn't believe <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">this pencil is <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">a magical pencil. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He said i was a silly goose, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">he said i was a fibber too, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">he dared me to prove that i was telling the truth, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">so what did I do- <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I banished him and drew a new guy!

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<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Gardener"** by Shel Silverstein

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We gave you the chance <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to water the plants. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We didn't mean that way-- <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Now zip up your pants.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the kid did. He wanted the reader <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to decide or figure out what the kid is <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">doing. || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Waiter"** by Meena Holland <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We gave you a link <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">to get us a drink. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Nooo not that way-- <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Now pull your pants up in a blink.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Look || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Label || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Decide ||
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">think before you do. ||
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">imagery || <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the author didn't want to say what

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<span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Peace"** by Sri Chinmoy

<span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Peace <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">silences the nightmares of the mind. <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Peace <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">feeds the dreams of the heart.

<span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">wanted to emphasize it. ||
 * <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Look || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Label || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Decide ||
 * <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Whole poem || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lesson || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">all you need is peace. ||
 * <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">lines 1 and 3 || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">repitition || <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">peace is important and the author

<span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Love"** by Meena Holland

<span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Love <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">silences the unwanted thoughts in the head. <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Love <span style="color: #8115cb; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">feeds the hopes in the soul.